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The Hallowed Ones #2
The Outside
One girl. One road. One chance to save what remains…
After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.
And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?
In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, it’s up to one Amish girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves . . . but what will she be asked to leave behind in return?
After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.
And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?
In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, it’s up to one Amish girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves . . . but what will she be asked to leave behind in return?
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2013
20 people are currently reading
2208 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bickle
27 books501 followersLaura Bickle grew up in rural Ohio, reading entirely too many comic books out loud to her favorite Wonder Woman doll. After graduating with an MA in Sociology – Criminology from Ohio State University and an MLIS in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she patrolled the stacks at the public library and worked with data systems in criminal justice. She now dreams up stories about the monsters under the stairs, also writing contemporary fantasy novels under the name Alayna Williams.
Her work has been included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016.
Her work has been included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 299 reviews
September 17, 2013
What happened?
This book is the equivalent of meeting someone you knew, maybe a former crush, a few years down the road. You run into them at a Walmart. The charming, charismatic, svelte young man you once knew has now become a blearly-eyed, beer-bellied, bloated ghost of his former self, holding a 6-pack of Corona Light as he trudges lifelessly towards the checkout.
Seriously, what the fuck happened?
So rarely have I seen a series degenerate so much as to be unrecognizable from its previous book. I would blame it on second-book syndrome, but to do so would mean that I would have to reconcile the fact that these two books are part of the same series. And like a very embarrassing sibling, the first book really, really should be distancing itself from this tragedy of a sequel.
Generally, I start off my book sequel reviews with a disclaimer that goes something like "READ THE FIRST BOOK, YOU WILL BE HOPELESSLY LOST IF YOU DO NOT." Not for this book, no. This book can almost be a standalone. The action starts right away, but I don't believe anyone starting from this book will get lost. Partially because the background is fairly adequately explained throughout the book, partially because, really, does anyone need an explanation for a vampire apocalypse? But mostly because our main character, Katie, is such a different character as to be completely unrecognizable from the first book to the current one.
In short, Katie turned from an innocent Amish girl, with understandable questions about faith, into a hypocritical, sanctimonious, self-righteous little bitch.
The thing I loved about the first book is that, while the main character is religious, while the community within it is religious, religion is never shoved down our throat. It was a story about faith and about fear, about persecution and a dawning horror of an outside intrusion.
This book went a complete 180 where religion is concerned. It is so overwhelmingly religious. God, Judas, the Bible, so many aspects of the Christian religion are presented to us by Katie. God this. The Lord that. I think my friend JennyJen counted the number of mentions of "God" in her review, and it came to a pretty ridiculous number (well over 100). It is as if Katie completely turns towards her religion once she has been banished from her community; she clings to it as if it were a lifeboat. She prays so much. It really is an inordinate and unacceptable amount of dumping of Christianity onto the unexpecting. I don't think I'm being unfair here, I am not a religious person, but I knew what I was getting into...I read the first book. I didn't have a problem with the religiousness in the first, but the overwhelming religious overtones was just too much here, it was unneeded, and largely unnecessary.
For example, Katie tells Alex the story of Tobit, Tobias, and Sarah. It's about Sarah losing seven husbands and Tobit going blind, and Tobias saving them both (and he gets the girl, YEAH!). The moral of the story is:
There's also the inclusion of the crazy-ass Pentecostal man, who speaks in tongues and is literally draped in live, writhing snakes. And what happens when Katie is bitten by a venomous snake and is about to die? THEY PRAY OUT THE VENOM, Y'ALL.
And of course, it worked.
Let's not even mention the ridiculousness of the science, considering the fact that copperhead venom is RARELY FATAL. Seriously, you'd probably need to actually french-kiss a copperhead to get the unfortunate snake to release enough venom to kill you (before it wants to kill itself).
Another problem I have with Katie throughout the book is the hypocrisy of her faith. Katie picks and chooses her morals to suit her needs in certain situations. Sleeping with Alex? That's just fine. Doing certain things to save your own fucking life? GOD WOULDN'T WANT ME TO DO THAT. PLAIN PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO THAT. Plain people do this. Plain people do that. Plain people are so much morally fucking superior than you in every way, you dumb Englisher. Katie doesn't know the fucking meaning of adaptation if it bit her in the ass like that poor copperhead.
Her religiousness results in some extremely idiotic behaviors on Katie's part that literally puts her, Ginger, and Alex's life in danger. Right off the bat, she refuses to take off her bonnet. Despite the fact that it attracts the attention of every fucking vampire in the vicinity.
Oh, and Alex? He's going to hell. Katie knows he's going to hell. She loves him and all, and she'll stick by his side no matter what, and he'll do the same for her. But still, he's a bad Christian, a horrible nonbeliever, and he's going to hell.
I still can't believe how many idiotic situation Katie gets into...and survives. Her decision-making process seems to pinpoint her towards the path that would get her party killed fastest, Katie is so fucking TSTL. She has completely moronic reactions to situations, based on her faith and what it doesn't allow her to do, despite the fact that what she believes God wants her to do will get her eaten as a midnight snack.
As I said, she picks and chooses her morality. Like when she releases a bunch of ravenous carnivores from their cages (lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!) regardless of the fact that they would probably all eat her alive, because they are skin-and-bones-starved. And there's no reason why they shouldn't. The animals are caged by a previous owner, and have been without food and water since their owner left. AND KATIE WANTS TO SET THEM FREE, FREE LIKE THE FUCKING WIND.
Fucking kill me, please.
I don't even want to go into the "science" that we encounter along the way. Partially because I don't want to spoil certain events, mostly because I don't really feel like writing another page ranting on the scientific implausibility and, really, just how utterly unfuckingbelievably stupid it is to incorporate plant-based phosphorescence into a human being not in vitro. And let's not even get into the positive and negative vibes of water molecules. It's the viiiiiiiiiibes, maaaaaaaaaan! Think positively! You'll get prettier snowflakes. No, really.
This fucking book.
The only redemption this book has is the vampires. These vampires are pretty bad-ass, and I really wished we saw more of them as like...sentient vampires, and not just bits of vicious, sibilant whispers in the darkness. More vampires (specifically, vampire nuns), less Katie. That's what this book needed.
This book is the equivalent of meeting someone you knew, maybe a former crush, a few years down the road. You run into them at a Walmart. The charming, charismatic, svelte young man you once knew has now become a blearly-eyed, beer-bellied, bloated ghost of his former self, holding a 6-pack of Corona Light as he trudges lifelessly towards the checkout.
Seriously, what the fuck happened?
So rarely have I seen a series degenerate so much as to be unrecognizable from its previous book. I would blame it on second-book syndrome, but to do so would mean that I would have to reconcile the fact that these two books are part of the same series. And like a very embarrassing sibling, the first book really, really should be distancing itself from this tragedy of a sequel.
Generally, I start off my book sequel reviews with a disclaimer that goes something like "READ THE FIRST BOOK, YOU WILL BE HOPELESSLY LOST IF YOU DO NOT." Not for this book, no. This book can almost be a standalone. The action starts right away, but I don't believe anyone starting from this book will get lost. Partially because the background is fairly adequately explained throughout the book, partially because, really, does anyone need an explanation for a vampire apocalypse? But mostly because our main character, Katie, is such a different character as to be completely unrecognizable from the first book to the current one.
In short, Katie turned from an innocent Amish girl, with understandable questions about faith, into a hypocritical, sanctimonious, self-righteous little bitch.
The thing I loved about the first book is that, while the main character is religious, while the community within it is religious, religion is never shoved down our throat. It was a story about faith and about fear, about persecution and a dawning horror of an outside intrusion.
This book went a complete 180 where religion is concerned. It is so overwhelmingly religious. God, Judas, the Bible, so many aspects of the Christian religion are presented to us by Katie. God this. The Lord that. I think my friend JennyJen counted the number of mentions of "God" in her review, and it came to a pretty ridiculous number (well over 100). It is as if Katie completely turns towards her religion once she has been banished from her community; she clings to it as if it were a lifeboat. She prays so much. It really is an inordinate and unacceptable amount of dumping of Christianity onto the unexpecting. I don't think I'm being unfair here, I am not a religious person, but I knew what I was getting into...I read the first book. I didn't have a problem with the religiousness in the first, but the overwhelming religious overtones was just too much here, it was unneeded, and largely unnecessary.
For example, Katie tells Alex the story of Tobit, Tobias, and Sarah. It's about Sarah losing seven husbands and Tobit going blind, and Tobias saving them both (and he gets the girl, YEAH!). The moral of the story is:
“The story is beloved by the Amish for its example of faithfulness and servitude to God. For perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds.”NO, IT'S NOT. That's only what Katie says! I don't get it! There was no point to the story in the context of the situation. To me, it didn't have the message that it is supposed to have had, according to how Katie explained it. The Biblical story and so many other religious references in the book came off as completely extraneous to the story.
There's also the inclusion of the crazy-ass Pentecostal man, who speaks in tongues and is literally draped in live, writhing snakes. And what happens when Katie is bitten by a venomous snake and is about to die? THEY PRAY OUT THE VENOM, Y'ALL.
“The only thing that can save her from poison is to be full of the Holy Spirit. We have to pray.”Sigh.
And of course, it worked.
Let's not even mention the ridiculousness of the science, considering the fact that copperhead venom is RARELY FATAL. Seriously, you'd probably need to actually french-kiss a copperhead to get the unfortunate snake to release enough venom to kill you (before it wants to kill itself).
Another problem I have with Katie throughout the book is the hypocrisy of her faith. Katie picks and chooses her morals to suit her needs in certain situations. Sleeping with Alex? That's just fine. Doing certain things to save your own fucking life? GOD WOULDN'T WANT ME TO DO THAT. PLAIN PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO THAT. Plain people do this. Plain people do that. Plain people are so much morally fucking superior than you in every way, you dumb Englisher. Katie doesn't know the fucking meaning of adaptation if it bit her in the ass like that poor copperhead.
Her religiousness results in some extremely idiotic behaviors on Katie's part that literally puts her, Ginger, and Alex's life in danger. Right off the bat, she refuses to take off her bonnet. Despite the fact that it attracts the attention of every fucking vampire in the vicinity.
He grabbed my elbow. He tore the white bonnet off my head, stuffed it into his pocket.(Alex still insists on calling Katie "Bonnet." It's just another thing that really pissed me off. She has a fucking name.)
I snatched at the strings. “Don’t...”
“This thing makes you a target. I could see you from all the way back there.” He stabbed a thumb at Ginger’s retreating figure on horseback, melting into the grass. “It shines like a beacon.”
I lifted my chin. “Ja. Maybe it should.”
This was an argument we repeated often. Though the end of the world had come, I adhered to the old ways. I was born Amish, and I would die Amish.
Oh, and Alex? He's going to hell. Katie knows he's going to hell. She loves him and all, and she'll stick by his side no matter what, and he'll do the same for her. But still, he's a bad Christian, a horrible nonbeliever, and he's going to hell.
I closed my eyes and prayed in the darkness, prayed that Alex would survive, even though he had turned his back on God’s plan for his human form.^___________^
I was pretty sure that even if he did survive, God would not accept him into heaven, no matter how much he might repent for it later. The only lifetime he would have was this one, here on earth.
I still can't believe how many idiotic situation Katie gets into...and survives. Her decision-making process seems to pinpoint her towards the path that would get her party killed fastest, Katie is so fucking TSTL. She has completely moronic reactions to situations, based on her faith and what it doesn't allow her to do, despite the fact that what she believes God wants her to do will get her eaten as a midnight snack.
As I said, she picks and chooses her morality. Like when she releases a bunch of ravenous carnivores from their cages (lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!) regardless of the fact that they would probably all eat her alive, because they are skin-and-bones-starved. And there's no reason why they shouldn't. The animals are caged by a previous owner, and have been without food and water since their owner left. AND KATIE WANTS TO SET THEM FREE, FREE LIKE THE FUCKING WIND.
I swallowed, stared out the kitchen window at the scrawny animals in their enclosures. “We can’t leave them out there.”The plot is unbelievably stupid. Once again, Deus ex machina is at play. I HATE IT. I seriously fucking hate the use of coincidence and happenstance as a plot device. Too many things happen by accident, there are way too many far too close calls for the story to even approach credibility. Alex shows up at just the right moment, despite supposedly being far, far away from her. People emerge out of no-fucking-where. A fucking wolf brings them rabbits when they're hungry. And they name him Fenrir. Isn't that just cute?! Coochie coochie coo!!!! Who's an adorable wittle wolf? Fenrir is!
“They’ll eat us alive if we let them go now,” Ginger said.
I shook my head. “No,” I said. “We can’t. I can’t, and I won’t.”
Fucking kill me, please.
I don't even want to go into the "science" that we encounter along the way. Partially because I don't want to spoil certain events, mostly because I don't really feel like writing another page ranting on the scientific implausibility and, really, just how utterly unfuckingbelievably stupid it is to incorporate plant-based phosphorescence into a human being not in vitro. And let's not even get into the positive and negative vibes of water molecules. It's the viiiiiiiiiibes, maaaaaaaaaan! Think positively! You'll get prettier snowflakes. No, really.
This fucking book.
The only redemption this book has is the vampires. These vampires are pretty bad-ass, and I really wished we saw more of them as like...sentient vampires, and not just bits of vicious, sibilant whispers in the darkness. More vampires (specifically, vampire nuns), less Katie. That's what this book needed.
September 23, 2013
Fantastic sequel to a fantastic book. Be prepared for lots of action sequences, survivalist foraging, discussions about science vs religion and the nature of forgiveness, deep respect for those who have been lost, and thoroughly awesome and original ways to combat The Darkness.
And damned if there aren't to boot! :D
Hurry up and write your next young adult novel, Ms. Bickle. I'll be waiting for it.
And damned if there aren't to boot! :D
Hurry up and write your next young adult novel, Ms. Bickle. I'll be waiting for it.
October 24, 2015
So, yeah, we were out of sparkly vampires at the store, but as we traveled through Pennsylvania we saw these really cute bonnets walking around, and WOULD YOU KNOW IT? They were all lit up inside and sparkly, so I thought to myself, what an interesting light display! So when I got closer, a few men with military grade hardware came out of nowhere and started threatening poor little me. I kept asking, "What is it, what is it?" And they just told me to mind my own business.
I grabbed a beer down the road and fortunately, some really drunk locals told me that they were the AMISH. I was shocked. No sparkly vampires anywhere? They said no. Apparently the genre ran out of ideas for vampire fiction, thought throwing the Amish into the mix would be AWESOME, but instead of thinking up something original, it just reverse-engineered the sparkly bit with a bit of science mixed with Handwavium and turned people into glowsticks that frighten little children and vampires alike.
I said to my new friends, "Oh, Thank God. I thought for a moment that some radioactive spider had bit the cows and now the whole community had gone Super Cheese."
They reassured me. They also prayed for me because of my blasphemy.
*Grand Silence*
I'd like to say that this was a super corny and funny B-Movie that me and I my friends could heckle over copious quantities of alcohol, but the novel takes itself too seriously. I was amazed at the amount of mythology research that was expositioned at me. I like classic mythology, of course. I like it when there are intelligent characters that can incorporate the classics into any conversation, or at least when they do it wittily. I especially like it when mythology is submerged into the text so no one absolutely has to focus on it just because its there. You know, like having the choice to read a novel for its subtexts? Or how about when religion is pushed upon an unsuspecting reader for the sole purpose of converting them? Same thing. I can enjoy either when they don't go all didactic on me.
Unfortunately, both the myth classics and uber-christianity (Or at least a handful of different faiths, with discussion,) were the primary focus in this by-the-books vampire explosion novel. Don't get me wrong. I like anything that improves my knowledge of anything, and I love diving into religion and myth. But to be honest, I don't think it belonged here.
Religion was set up to be equally powerful against the vamps as science, and the two had a nice long discussion throughout the novel as to which would do better in the apocalypse. The problem is, it's obvious that this is social commentary, and it's not buried deeply. We know that the author is sitting dab-center of the argument and doesn't want to commit to either science or religion. She gives us portents and signs and lab results. Magic versus Reason. And all the while, she makes it feel like both are equally valid, and maybe they are, but the discussion is too complex and interesting to be surfaced to death in a novel about happy shiny people and the undead.
"But," you say, "It's a YA, and we can't expect children to go that deep into the thinking!"
And I say, "Bullshit. Anyone who believes that kids don't eventually get *everything* eventually are idiots. Telling someone to sit in the middle of the road and have faith in both sides of the argument is just as bad as going religious nutso or an asshole atheist. That isn't to say that there are no balances that can be had, but no one is going to come out of this novel thinking that they had a great revelation."
*sigh*
Was I entertained with the novel? Meh, middling. It wasn't a horrible read. I still think, as with my previous review for book one, that it would have been served SO much better with a bit more creativity. Sure. Glow=Immunity. Odd and believable if you squint real hard and shut down your nervous system and stop yourself before you ask questions like, "So if I'm radiating enough light to scare the vamps, does that mean I'm full spectrum? Can I help my friends up north as winter sets in to prevent an onset of Seasonal Affect Disorder?" or, "Can I harness myself to charge my Ipad? Make myself a solar panel coffin and sleep nude to charge all the batteries in my house?"
It is, after all, the apocalypse, and infrastructure is probably a distant memory. How else am I going to read my ebooks?
Ah, well, welcome home, wayward daughter. You look well from your little journey outside our community. What is that glow about you?
It's ok. Wouldn't really recommend it to anyone, though, unless they haven't read much of anything or just want a direct cure for Twilight.
I grabbed a beer down the road and fortunately, some really drunk locals told me that they were the AMISH. I was shocked. No sparkly vampires anywhere? They said no. Apparently the genre ran out of ideas for vampire fiction, thought throwing the Amish into the mix would be AWESOME, but instead of thinking up something original, it just reverse-engineered the sparkly bit with a bit of science mixed with Handwavium and turned people into glowsticks that frighten little children and vampires alike.
I said to my new friends, "Oh, Thank God. I thought for a moment that some radioactive spider had bit the cows and now the whole community had gone Super Cheese."
They reassured me. They also prayed for me because of my blasphemy.
*Grand Silence*
I'd like to say that this was a super corny and funny B-Movie that me and I my friends could heckle over copious quantities of alcohol, but the novel takes itself too seriously. I was amazed at the amount of mythology research that was expositioned at me. I like classic mythology, of course. I like it when there are intelligent characters that can incorporate the classics into any conversation, or at least when they do it wittily. I especially like it when mythology is submerged into the text so no one absolutely has to focus on it just because its there. You know, like having the choice to read a novel for its subtexts? Or how about when religion is pushed upon an unsuspecting reader for the sole purpose of converting them? Same thing. I can enjoy either when they don't go all didactic on me.
Unfortunately, both the myth classics and uber-christianity (Or at least a handful of different faiths, with discussion,) were the primary focus in this by-the-books vampire explosion novel. Don't get me wrong. I like anything that improves my knowledge of anything, and I love diving into religion and myth. But to be honest, I don't think it belonged here.
Religion was set up to be equally powerful against the vamps as science, and the two had a nice long discussion throughout the novel as to which would do better in the apocalypse. The problem is, it's obvious that this is social commentary, and it's not buried deeply. We know that the author is sitting dab-center of the argument and doesn't want to commit to either science or religion. She gives us portents and signs and lab results. Magic versus Reason. And all the while, she makes it feel like both are equally valid, and maybe they are, but the discussion is too complex and interesting to be surfaced to death in a novel about happy shiny people and the undead.
"But," you say, "It's a YA, and we can't expect children to go that deep into the thinking!"
And I say, "Bullshit. Anyone who believes that kids don't eventually get *everything* eventually are idiots. Telling someone to sit in the middle of the road and have faith in both sides of the argument is just as bad as going religious nutso or an asshole atheist. That isn't to say that there are no balances that can be had, but no one is going to come out of this novel thinking that they had a great revelation."
*sigh*
Was I entertained with the novel? Meh, middling. It wasn't a horrible read. I still think, as with my previous review for book one, that it would have been served SO much better with a bit more creativity. Sure. Glow=Immunity. Odd and believable if you squint real hard and shut down your nervous system and stop yourself before you ask questions like, "So if I'm radiating enough light to scare the vamps, does that mean I'm full spectrum? Can I help my friends up north as winter sets in to prevent an onset of Seasonal Affect Disorder?" or, "Can I harness myself to charge my Ipad? Make myself a solar panel coffin and sleep nude to charge all the batteries in my house?"
It is, after all, the apocalypse, and infrastructure is probably a distant memory. How else am I going to read my ebooks?
Ah, well, welcome home, wayward daughter. You look well from your little journey outside our community. What is that glow about you?
It's ok. Wouldn't really recommend it to anyone, though, unless they haven't read much of anything or just want a direct cure for Twilight.
October 24, 2014
just read the whole book in two hours.. it was that good!
July 15, 2019
While I loved the first book (The Hallowed Ones) of the series, this one was a bit of a letdown. Still decent enough and well worth reading, but I felt that a lot of the excitement and thrill level of the first book was lacking here. It just wasn't as edgey. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed this in general.
We start off with Katie and company on the road, heading north. Somewhere between the two books they must have had some scary run-ins with the vampires since they are more knowledgeable about how to avoid them. Sadly, we do not get to experience those moments. A lot of the book takes place during the daylight so there is not much action. I miss the chilling night scenes that add so much atmosphere. We get some, but they feel quick and short-lived.
The best scene, while very mellow, takes places in a store. We get a glimpse into Katie and Alex's personalities before the world changed for the worse. I still love Katie in this book. She is strong and has a good set of principles she lives by. While she may have had issues back in her Amish community, their values help her be true to herself. Alex is the same way. sweet, caring, protective but he has his own ideals to live by. Sometimes the two of them go hand in hand but their differences also play into this. So great characterization still going on!
The letdown: the "trick" of defeating/surviving that they learn. When I read bout it, my mind was just repeating: "Really? Seriously?" So pass on that concept. Unique or not I didn't care for it. So in the end, I like the characters, and the series as a whole, but this novel just didn't grab me the way the first book did. Final rating: between a 3 1/2 and 4 stars.
We start off with Katie and company on the road, heading north. Somewhere between the two books they must have had some scary run-ins with the vampires since they are more knowledgeable about how to avoid them. Sadly, we do not get to experience those moments. A lot of the book takes place during the daylight so there is not much action. I miss the chilling night scenes that add so much atmosphere. We get some, but they feel quick and short-lived.
The best scene, while very mellow, takes places in a store. We get a glimpse into Katie and Alex's personalities before the world changed for the worse. I still love Katie in this book. She is strong and has a good set of principles she lives by. While she may have had issues back in her Amish community, their values help her be true to herself. Alex is the same way. sweet, caring, protective but he has his own ideals to live by. Sometimes the two of them go hand in hand but their differences also play into this. So great characterization still going on!
The letdown: the "trick" of defeating/surviving that they learn. When I read bout it, my mind was just repeating: "Really? Seriously?" So pass on that concept. Unique or not I didn't care for it. So in the end, I like the characters, and the series as a whole, but this novel just didn't grab me the way the first book did. Final rating: between a 3 1/2 and 4 stars.
September 8, 2013
I was completely blown away from the first book in this series, duology?, and it's not that I didn't really like this one, it's just not as amazing for me. It's weird because it felt slower even though there was more vampire action.
Veering slightly off course for a second, I should say that I enjoyed the humor that was in the story. There isn't tons of it, but it's well placed. Like Alex making a joke about
and Katie not getting it, lol.I called it the zombie apocalypse in my first review, because these vampires are so much closer to what I envision zombies should be like. They're old-school vamps, and I love it, even if I still think of them as zombies. Whatever. Stop judging me.
The story picks up a few weeks after Katie, Ginger, and Alex were thrown out of Katie's Amish home, and we're immediately treated to fighting alongside her as she battles some vampires. Katie isn't the same girl she was when we first met her, and I really enjoyed her evolution; it felt authentic to her character. She maintained her Amish roots, even as she did a great deal of questioning of her faith, and in the end she stayed true to herself which I appreciated. In fact, many of the questions she raised were ones I've thought myself. She and Alex have a very sweet, if a bit boring, relationship and Alex proved himself worthy of being one of the last men on earth repeatedly. "That's not what I mean. I mean...you just agree to submit to my authority. Is that something that you're doing just because I'm a man? Having a penis doesn't make me infallible." He rubbed his hands through his hair, and I could see his Adam's apple bob as he was trying not to cry.
To surmise my point, this is a great duology, the writing is subtle and deep, the characters are grey, the situation immediate, and the story engrossing.
wishlist
January 17, 2013Edit: 17/01/13
There's a cover!!!!!!!!
Oh, thanks the heavens for a second book!!!!
There's a cover!!!!!!!!
Oh, thanks the heavens for a second book!!!!
August 15, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Post-apocalyptic/Dystopian
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: those who enjoyed the first book, those who enjoy dystopian books.
Book Available: September 3, 2013 in hardcover and Kindle editions
Trigger Warnings: Violence, killing, treachery, premarital sex
My Thoughts: I was really bothered by the cover on this book. The advantage to e-books (or one of them) is that I don't often notice covers, so when I have a physical book with a jarringly discontinuous cover, it makes me even crazier than normal. One of the things about which Katie dreamed while she planned for Rumspringa was the opportunity to wear trousers. She is also a very sensible girl. If she broke with Amish traditions enough upon her leaving, she would not be wearing a fancy dress like she has on the cover, and which exposes her arms and legs. She would likely be wearing trousers. She would also be wearing warmer clothing, since it was late in the year at the end of the previous books. Additionally, her hair is way off on the cover. My understanding of Amish traditions is that the women don't cut their hair, so it should be much longer if she had left it. If she were to cut her hair, it would undoubtedly be much shorter than this (again, she's sensible) so that it would be easy for her to care for it. This cover does not at all mesh with the girl that we learned about in the first book. Also, what are those weird boots she is wearing? Not at all sensible. All these things were confirmed in this book. Katie had never cut her hair. The time when she was Outside she mostly wore her Amish clothing, or as similar as possible. I realized what bothered me so much about the dress she is wearing on the cover: it looks like something a Baptist would wear. It's completely wrong.
Anyway, that truly is neither here nor there, but I did post a long rant about the cover after I received the book, so I thought I should address that. The cover was not enough to justify lowering my rating. Based on how this book ends, I believe there will not be any more. There might be, but this one ends very well and seems to wrap almost everything up, so, I just don't know. I really enjoyed this book. It's as much a journey of discovery for Katie as it is anything, with a few fight scenes to spice things up. Her character develops nicely, and we learn a bit more about Alex, too. All in all, it was a great book. If you like dystopian YA fiction, if you liked the first book, you won't want to miss this one, horrible cover and all. I'm not sure how realistic the science is, but I thought it was an interesting solution, and I did enjoy the scientific explanations for holy ground. I do with they'd come up with an explanation for running water, but we can't have everything.
Series Information: The Hallowed Ones series
Book 1: The Hallowed Ones, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 2: The Outside, available September 3, 2013
Disclosure: I received a paperback ARC from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.
And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: those who enjoyed the first book, those who enjoy dystopian books.
Book Available: September 3, 2013 in hardcover and Kindle editions
Trigger Warnings: Violence, killing, treachery, premarital sex
My Thoughts: I was really bothered by the cover on this book. The advantage to e-books (or one of them) is that I don't often notice covers, so when I have a physical book with a jarringly discontinuous cover, it makes me even crazier than normal. One of the things about which Katie dreamed while she planned for Rumspringa was the opportunity to wear trousers. She is also a very sensible girl. If she broke with Amish traditions enough upon her leaving, she would not be wearing a fancy dress like she has on the cover, and which exposes her arms and legs. She would likely be wearing trousers. She would also be wearing warmer clothing, since it was late in the year at the end of the previous books. Additionally, her hair is way off on the cover. My understanding of Amish traditions is that the women don't cut their hair, so it should be much longer if she had left it. If she were to cut her hair, it would undoubtedly be much shorter than this (again, she's sensible) so that it would be easy for her to care for it. This cover does not at all mesh with the girl that we learned about in the first book. Also, what are those weird boots she is wearing? Not at all sensible. All these things were confirmed in this book. Katie had never cut her hair. The time when she was Outside she mostly wore her Amish clothing, or as similar as possible. I realized what bothered me so much about the dress she is wearing on the cover: it looks like something a Baptist would wear. It's completely wrong.
Anyway, that truly is neither here nor there, but I did post a long rant about the cover after I received the book, so I thought I should address that. The cover was not enough to justify lowering my rating. Based on how this book ends, I believe there will not be any more. There might be, but this one ends very well and seems to wrap almost everything up, so, I just don't know. I really enjoyed this book. It's as much a journey of discovery for Katie as it is anything, with a few fight scenes to spice things up. Her character develops nicely, and we learn a bit more about Alex, too. All in all, it was a great book. If you like dystopian YA fiction, if you liked the first book, you won't want to miss this one, horrible cover and all. I'm not sure how realistic the science is, but I thought it was an interesting solution, and I did enjoy the scientific explanations for holy ground. I do with they'd come up with an explanation for running water, but we can't have everything.
Series Information: The Hallowed Ones series
Book 1: The Hallowed Ones, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 2: The Outside, available September 3, 2013
Disclosure: I received a paperback ARC from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.
And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?
February 20, 2015
So disappointing.
March 28, 2015
Laura Bickle really has created something completely wonderful in her duology The Hallowed Ones. Not only it is different, creepy, suspenseful and downright hard to put down but it is also something almost unheard of in the paranormal genre right now let alone the YA paranormal genre. It has vamps.
I know what you are thinking, what is so special about that? Vamps big deal!
But these aren't your ordinary sparkly, fall in love with them vamps. These are the real creatures of the night. Disgusting, vicious, ugly and horribly monsters. They thirst for blood and blood alone. They destroy, they reek havoc and they are far from nice as they can get. They are pure unadulterated evil.
I fell in love with Ms. Bickle's writing after reading the first installment and knew the second was going to be a must read.
I admit to being on the good vamp bandwagon but these vamps, these vamps are something else. And even though I am not suppose to fall in love with them, I did because they were everything vampires and nightmares were suppose to be and I loved it. The made my skin crawl thinking about them and made me want to turn lights on at night to scare them away and most of all, they made me fear them and hate them all in one. These were vamps done right. Lost Boys, Dracula done right.
I loved watching Katie grow from a very sheltered naïve girl into the strong woman that she is by the end of the book. Never once questioning her faith and standards although she doesn't stay the same nor feel the same way about everything, she does stay true to herself and I loved her for that.
Alex is just amazing and once again I fell in love with his strong character and just how much he has Katie's back and the fact that he never pushes her to be anything other than what and who she is just makes him that much more endearing.
Bickle is an amazing storyteller, telling a tale that will clutch you in it's grasp and refuse to let go and even though there are things that are terrifying and things that go bump in the night, you won't want to be let go of. You will relish the ride and have the time of your life while on it.
The insight into the Amish world, the horrific-ness of the Darkness and the theories behind it were all so well done, so well researched and plotted that I really couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to the series or a better YA read.
Bickle has made a fan out of me and I will pick up whatever else she writes in the future.
I know what you are thinking, what is so special about that? Vamps big deal!
But these aren't your ordinary sparkly, fall in love with them vamps. These are the real creatures of the night. Disgusting, vicious, ugly and horribly monsters. They thirst for blood and blood alone. They destroy, they reek havoc and they are far from nice as they can get. They are pure unadulterated evil.
I fell in love with Ms. Bickle's writing after reading the first installment and knew the second was going to be a must read.
I admit to being on the good vamp bandwagon but these vamps, these vamps are something else. And even though I am not suppose to fall in love with them, I did because they were everything vampires and nightmares were suppose to be and I loved it. The made my skin crawl thinking about them and made me want to turn lights on at night to scare them away and most of all, they made me fear them and hate them all in one. These were vamps done right. Lost Boys, Dracula done right.
I loved watching Katie grow from a very sheltered naïve girl into the strong woman that she is by the end of the book. Never once questioning her faith and standards although she doesn't stay the same nor feel the same way about everything, she does stay true to herself and I loved her for that.
Alex is just amazing and once again I fell in love with his strong character and just how much he has Katie's back and the fact that he never pushes her to be anything other than what and who she is just makes him that much more endearing.
Bickle is an amazing storyteller, telling a tale that will clutch you in it's grasp and refuse to let go and even though there are things that are terrifying and things that go bump in the night, you won't want to be let go of. You will relish the ride and have the time of your life while on it.
The insight into the Amish world, the horrific-ness of the Darkness and the theories behind it were all so well done, so well researched and plotted that I really couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to the series or a better YA read.
Bickle has made a fan out of me and I will pick up whatever else she writes in the future.
October 28, 2013
I've struggled a lot with this review, mainly because so much that I want to say about this novel is a spoiler. And yet, let me reassure fans of The Hallowed Ones first: The Outside is a remarkable follow-up to the creepy, vampire-infested Amish story we were given last year. Although Bickle has strayed away from the Amish community that was once her setting, the values of these people are still very much alive and present throughout the novel in the form of Katie, our protagonist. Moreover, where I could scarcely see a solution to the problems presented within this series, Bickle creatively wraps up this duology perfectly, presenting solid solutions and leaving no threads un-explored.
For me, The Outside got off to a bit of a slow start, struggling to really find its voice in Katie's narration until nearly a quarter of the way through. Once it hit its stride, though, it was impossible to put down. While the bulk of Katie's growth remaining in The Hallowed Ones, she continues to adapt to her environment - while retaining her values - in this installment. In particular, her romance with Alex is intensely developed; slow, but true. The Hallowed Ones touched upon their connection, but The Outside really solidifies what they have into something real. Additionally, I love that there is both an influx of new characters and a return to old characters in this installment. Bickle goes back to fix the issues caused by Katie's hasty departure, as well as explore the lore and world she has created with her vampiric disease. Although she doesn't bring up nearly as many intriguing topics to mull over as she did in The Hallowed Ones, creating a divide between the spiritual and science, she does manage to make readers truly think and reflect with this installment as well. Bickle isn't afraid of exploring the boundaries of her Amish protagonist, which I love, so all-in-all, this novel wound up being just as strong - if not even more memorable - than its predecessor.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
For me, The Outside got off to a bit of a slow start, struggling to really find its voice in Katie's narration until nearly a quarter of the way through. Once it hit its stride, though, it was impossible to put down. While the bulk of Katie's growth remaining in The Hallowed Ones, she continues to adapt to her environment - while retaining her values - in this installment. In particular, her romance with Alex is intensely developed; slow, but true. The Hallowed Ones touched upon their connection, but The Outside really solidifies what they have into something real. Additionally, I love that there is both an influx of new characters and a return to old characters in this installment. Bickle goes back to fix the issues caused by Katie's hasty departure, as well as explore the lore and world she has created with her vampiric disease. Although she doesn't bring up nearly as many intriguing topics to mull over as she did in The Hallowed Ones, creating a divide between the spiritual and science, she does manage to make readers truly think and reflect with this installment as well. Bickle isn't afraid of exploring the boundaries of her Amish protagonist, which I love, so all-in-all, this novel wound up being just as strong - if not even more memorable - than its predecessor.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
Want to read
February 1, 2013GIMME! Love the new cover. Can not wait for this one.
Bring back my Amish being terrorized by scary vampires. I need more horror in my (book) life.
Bring back my Amish being terrorized by scary vampires. I need more horror in my (book) life.
September 19, 2013
What the hell happened? No, seriously. I loved The Hallowed Ones. In fact, it was my favorite book of the month last month and it reached my all time favorites list. And yet, The Outside...just wasn't good. Everything that I loved about The Hallowed Ones was just...gone. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
One of my favorite things about The Hallowed Ones was that while it was a book that heavily dealt with religion, the book itself wasn't overly religious. What I mean by that is that I didn't constantly feel like I was being preached at. See, that lulled me into a false sense of security in which I thought "See! Books about religion don't have to try to convert me to said religion!" And then that security blanket was gone because The Outside was extremely religious. In fact, Katie was all "science sucks, and religion pwns!" (not really, but kind of). It was disheartening to realize in The Outside, the author starts veering towards christian/religious fiction...a genre in which I can see the appeal, but alas it isn't one that appeals to me.
The overt religious tone wasn't the only thing that turned me off of The Outside. My main issue with it was that it just wasn't engaging. The Hallowed Ones was one of those books that I just did not want to put down. All I could think about was getting back to that book. The only thing that I could think of while reading The Outside was "Ugh, when is this book going to be OVER?!". It didn't have that spark, that star quality that The Hallowed Ones had. It just meandered without completely grabbing me and taking me along for the ride.
So, overall, I found The Outside to be a huge disappointment...one that falls heavily short of its predecessor. It wasn't captivating, the tone was decidedly different, and the characters just weren't as engaging as they were the first time around. It just felt like an entirely different series. The only reason I even kept reading was because I had hoped it would get better and be a sequel worthy of The Hallowed Ones. It wasn't. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series, but I am sure that I won't be checking the next installment if there is one.
One of my favorite things about The Hallowed Ones was that while it was a book that heavily dealt with religion, the book itself wasn't overly religious. What I mean by that is that I didn't constantly feel like I was being preached at. See, that lulled me into a false sense of security in which I thought "See! Books about religion don't have to try to convert me to said religion!" And then that security blanket was gone because The Outside was extremely religious. In fact, Katie was all "science sucks, and religion pwns!" (not really, but kind of). It was disheartening to realize in The Outside, the author starts veering towards christian/religious fiction...a genre in which I can see the appeal, but alas it isn't one that appeals to me.
The overt religious tone wasn't the only thing that turned me off of The Outside. My main issue with it was that it just wasn't engaging. The Hallowed Ones was one of those books that I just did not want to put down. All I could think about was getting back to that book. The only thing that I could think of while reading The Outside was "Ugh, when is this book going to be OVER?!". It didn't have that spark, that star quality that The Hallowed Ones had. It just meandered without completely grabbing me and taking me along for the ride.
So, overall, I found The Outside to be a huge disappointment...one that falls heavily short of its predecessor. It wasn't captivating, the tone was decidedly different, and the characters just weren't as engaging as they were the first time around. It just felt like an entirely different series. The only reason I even kept reading was because I had hoped it would get better and be a sequel worthy of The Hallowed Ones. It wasn't. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series, but I am sure that I won't be checking the next installment if there is one.
November 30, 2017
2 stars
I really liked The Hallowed ones, so I was eagerly anticipating this next installment. I have to say though, I was underwhelmed.
The biggest reason that I did not enjoy this book as much as the first was
I also didn't anticipate, nor like, the highly religious turn the book took. In the first book, Katie questioned her faith; she had trouble following it to a T. This being said, the religious aspects seemed more informative; the author seemed to be acquainting us with aspects of the Amish faith that we may not have known about (whether all of the things she highlighted are true, I do not know). In the second book, the religious aspects seemed to take on a new life. The author went deeper into faith, discussing it in greater detail. I have to say that for awhile I forgot I was reading a book about humans turned 'vampires,' and instead thought I was reading a religious text book.
I kind of wish that the author would have taken a different turn with this book. I think I would have liked it more if (somehow!?!) Katie could have stayed in her Amish community, instead of going off on a ridiculous journey to find the . I liked reading about her life there, her relationship with her parents, etc. I would have liked to see how that played out had she not left.
I really liked The Hallowed ones, so I was eagerly anticipating this next installment. I have to say though, I was underwhelmed.
The biggest reason that I did not enjoy this book as much as the first was
I also didn't anticipate, nor like, the highly religious turn the book took. In the first book, Katie questioned her faith; she had trouble following it to a T. This being said, the religious aspects seemed more informative; the author seemed to be acquainting us with aspects of the Amish faith that we may not have known about (whether all of the things she highlighted are true, I do not know). In the second book, the religious aspects seemed to take on a new life. The author went deeper into faith, discussing it in greater detail. I have to say that for awhile I forgot I was reading a book about humans turned 'vampires,' and instead thought I was reading a religious text book.
I kind of wish that the author would have taken a different turn with this book. I think I would have liked it more if (somehow!?!) Katie could have stayed in her Amish community, instead of going off on a ridiculous journey to find the . I liked reading about her life there, her relationship with her parents, etc. I would have liked to see how that played out had she not left.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2015
Pretty Good!
The Outside is not as good as the first in the series, but still worth reading. I liked it a lot. Katie and Alex really grow in this one, and so does their chemistry. There is a lot more romance in this one than the first. My only issue was the whole science part of it, and the glowing skin. You have to read it to understand what I mean. I don't want to giveaway any spoilers. It just felt like it came out of no where and was just way tooooooo convenient. Maybe that's just me. *shrug*
Anyway, I recommend this series. It's pretty good and does not paint the perfect Vampire. They are nasty killers! It felt almost like I was reading a Zombie novel. Loved it!
The Outside is not as good as the first in the series, but still worth reading. I liked it a lot. Katie and Alex really grow in this one, and so does their chemistry. There is a lot more romance in this one than the first. My only issue was the whole science part of it, and the glowing skin. You have to read it to understand what I mean. I don't want to giveaway any spoilers. It just felt like it came out of no where and was just way tooooooo convenient. Maybe that's just me. *shrug*
Anyway, I recommend this series. It's pretty good and does not paint the perfect Vampire. They are nasty killers! It felt almost like I was reading a Zombie novel. Loved it!
September 13, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. I liked this one more than the first book, The Hallowed Ones, which I also gave 3.5 stars but rounded down. Way to work that flexible GR 5 star rating system!
September 16, 2013
Wow, what a disappointment. Full review to come...
January 24, 2020
The Outside is pretty great post apocalyptic sequel. It was good to see all of these characters again, but this just didn't quite work for me on the whole as much as book one of this duology. What I liked most about book one was the isolation factor of Katie's Amish community, but that's not at all part of the forefront here.
April 3, 2020
I will confess: I'm a total fan piggy when it comes to Laura Bickle. Her books are among my absolute favorites and The Hallowed Ones topped my Top Pearls list of 2012.
That being said: How can one not be totally in love with books as good as The Hallowed Ones, no matter who wrote it? So I can safely say The Outside was one of the most anticipated releases of 2013 for me. I've been counting the months ever since reading The Hallowed Ones for the first time.
And it was totally worth the wait!
The Outside is amazing!
It's full of heartbreak, danger, doubt, love and hope. I feared for Katie, cried with her and for her, and her struggles to stay alive and to stay true to herself kept me up way past my bedtime.
I love how Laura Bickle shows the harsh reality of staying alive in a world filled with darkness. Katie has to make some difficult choices and this doesn't come easy. She knows that whatever choice she makes will have consequences that she will have to live with for the rest of her life, how ever long or short that might be.
I also like how the subject of faith is handled in this book. Faith is an important factor in Katie's life, still Laura manages to keep this book from turning into a sermon, she balances Katie's faith with Alex's more practical approach of things. I loved the relationship between Alex and Katie: it's not the instalove that is common in many YA books, but it's believable and sweet.
So yeah: I totally adore and love this book and it will be reread and treasured. I'm sad this is already the last book in this series, but I'm looking forward to reading lots more stories by Laura Bickle, because I'm certain each one will be a winner.
That being said: How can one not be totally in love with books as good as The Hallowed Ones, no matter who wrote it? So I can safely say The Outside was one of the most anticipated releases of 2013 for me. I've been counting the months ever since reading The Hallowed Ones for the first time.
And it was totally worth the wait!
The Outside is amazing!
It's full of heartbreak, danger, doubt, love and hope. I feared for Katie, cried with her and for her, and her struggles to stay alive and to stay true to herself kept me up way past my bedtime.
I love how Laura Bickle shows the harsh reality of staying alive in a world filled with darkness. Katie has to make some difficult choices and this doesn't come easy. She knows that whatever choice she makes will have consequences that she will have to live with for the rest of her life, how ever long or short that might be.
I also like how the subject of faith is handled in this book. Faith is an important factor in Katie's life, still Laura manages to keep this book from turning into a sermon, she balances Katie's faith with Alex's more practical approach of things. I loved the relationship between Alex and Katie: it's not the instalove that is common in many YA books, but it's believable and sweet.
So yeah: I totally adore and love this book and it will be reread and treasured. I'm sad this is already the last book in this series, but I'm looking forward to reading lots more stories by Laura Bickle, because I'm certain each one will be a winner.
August 26, 2018
One girl. One road. One chance to save what remains…
After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.
The Outside was a very good conclusion to the story that began in The Hallowed Ones. I found the mix of science and religion interesting and this book was just as creepy as The Hallowed Ones. There was not quite as much description when it came to the gore in this book, so it would be a little easier for the squeamish to read. This concludes pretty well, but there is room for another book if the author ever wants to add to the story.
If you're looking for a good creepy YA supernatural horror story, try this duology. I would love to read more YA from this author.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.
The Outside was a very good conclusion to the story that began in The Hallowed Ones. I found the mix of science and religion interesting and this book was just as creepy as The Hallowed Ones. There was not quite as much description when it came to the gore in this book, so it would be a little easier for the squeamish to read. This concludes pretty well, but there is room for another book if the author ever wants to add to the story.
If you're looking for a good creepy YA supernatural horror story, try this duology. I would love to read more YA from this author.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
October 25, 2017
I enjoyed both books in this series a lot. I picked them up because I thought the whole "Amish girl fights vampires" premise sounded cool and Bickle delivered. These books are full of dark, vivid imagery and atmosphere and the plots are briskly paced. If you're sick of weak sauce vampire stories these books are a necessary corrective because Bickle doesn't skimp on the destruction. Katie is a thoughtful protagonist whose unique perspective on life is fascinating to read.
September 8, 2013
I guess this was a two book series? Did anyone else think that the very end was wrapped up super quick?
Other than the end feeling abrupt, I really liked this series so much! Excellent writing, and you can tell that the author is well educated in theology. Again in this sequel, the whole story revolves around religions, and we discuss even more of them in this book. There's Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism...the list just goes on and on. Of course this all set against a vampire apocalypse, but the funny thing is that this book doesn't feel that paranormal. It's more about science and religion, and how people who believe themselves to be "most holy" will act evil given enough power.
If you are looking for a scary horror book, this series really isn't it, but it's good! It's gory, and there's a lot of violence in fighting for survival, but I was never tense or scared. If you are looking for that kind of story, try Anna Dressed in Blood (loved that one!), or Dead Sky Morning (which was so scary and so good, but also the third book in a series so read them all!).
This sequel has more adventure and more growth to it than the first book. Katie and Alex are outside now, and along the way they become really strong (and kinda BADASS) people. I don't want to say too much about the story for those that plan to read this series starting with the first book, so read my review on book one (The Hallowed Ones). Don't let my religious talk scare you away from this one! It's a great story, and I found it to be a fast paced easy read. There's a lot more to this story than religion, just know that there's a lot of religious commenting and dissecting woven into it.
I was a little disappointed when, in the end, Kinda sad. I loved when. And Elijah. Oh good God, Elijah. He was just At least there was that.
I recommend this series for people who like dark, thoughtful, minorly thrilling books with good writing and a little bit of a love interest (not a ton though, so if you're a romance reader, don't jump on this one or anything. You probably will get pretty restless with this couple).
Other than the end feeling abrupt, I really liked this series so much! Excellent writing, and you can tell that the author is well educated in theology. Again in this sequel, the whole story revolves around religions, and we discuss even more of them in this book. There's Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism...the list just goes on and on. Of course this all set against a vampire apocalypse, but the funny thing is that this book doesn't feel that paranormal. It's more about science and religion, and how people who believe themselves to be "most holy" will act evil given enough power.
If you are looking for a scary horror book, this series really isn't it, but it's good! It's gory, and there's a lot of violence in fighting for survival, but I was never tense or scared. If you are looking for that kind of story, try Anna Dressed in Blood (loved that one!), or Dead Sky Morning (which was so scary and so good, but also the third book in a series so read them all!).
This sequel has more adventure and more growth to it than the first book. Katie and Alex are outside now, and along the way they become really strong (and kinda BADASS) people. I don't want to say too much about the story for those that plan to read this series starting with the first book, so read my review on book one (The Hallowed Ones). Don't let my religious talk scare you away from this one! It's a great story, and I found it to be a fast paced easy read. There's a lot more to this story than religion, just know that there's a lot of religious commenting and dissecting woven into it.
I was a little disappointed when, in the end, Kinda sad. I loved when. And Elijah. Oh good God, Elijah. He was just At least there was that.
I recommend this series for people who like dark, thoughtful, minorly thrilling books with good writing and a little bit of a love interest (not a ton though, so if you're a romance reader, don't jump on this one or anything. You probably will get pretty restless with this couple).
September 13, 2013
Not as good as her first book. In fact, I would say that this book was quite disappointing. If you're expecting whatever the author had explored and developed in Book 1 in this sequel, well, don't be surprised if you don't find this as enjoyable.
Katie had a more rounded character in The Hallowed Ones. Her inner turmoil and emotions were palpable and nicely portrayed. But instead of delving further into her psych, the author decides to take a detour by bombarding us with Katie's newly acquired piousness. I mean, I don't mind a little religion in my book as long as it's not overwhelming. The staggering amount of time that 'God' was mentioned was ridiculous. I don't appreciate being reminded of it every time I turn to the next page.
If that doesn't irk me, I would say it's the contention of religion vs science that was starting to bug me. Alex and Katie are both stubborn in their belief but are smart enough not to let their minor disagreement come between their relationship. No. They did more than that. They were also successful in grating on my nerves.
I also didn't think religion would be quite so ubiquitous in this book. It's a novel about the Amish, their lifestyle and of course, vampires/zombies/undead (however you wish to call it). I'm well aware of that--of the Amish bits at least--and I reckon that I should have seen that coming from miles away. But that doesn't change the fact that this is a straight out YA novel, isn't it? Or has this book turned into some Christian fiction without my realising?
Katie's empathy towards the hollowed and ravenous animals was commendable. But it was also so very stupid at the same time. Her world has turned upside down and there's darkness lurking at every corner, don't you think it's a little unwise that she should personally release the animals--predators like wolves, bears, jaguars and the like--from their cages? Even a normal human being with minimal intelligence would think twice before they do anything that stupid. The reason? It's because animals are precious and sacred creatures...
Another scene that comes to mind was right after they had left 'Animal Farm' and winter was closing in on them. Ginger and Alex were smart enough to pilfer some warm clothing for themselves. Now that's what I call resourceful and practical. Or to put it simply, one would just call it as plain common sense. You'd think that she'd have that at least? But no. Her main priority is to adhere to the Amish code of dressing rather than wearing warm clothes. Apparently, dying of pneumonia is the least of her concerns. Death by vampires and hungry animals seem like likelier choices.
Now that I'm done with this book, all I can say is that I'm glad. Not in the happy, satisfied kind of way. More like 'Glad that's over!' I heard this book is part of a duology. It has an open ending, so I wouldn't be too surprised if the author decides to continue. If she does, I don't think I'll even deign to read it. It'll just be a waste of time. And besides, I don't see how the author can turn this story around for me. I'm far too gone. In spite of my pointy and not-so-very subtle assessment, I applaud the author's effort in producing a work of terrific imagery and vivid writing. But that's as far as my compliment would go, unfortunately.
Katie had a more rounded character in The Hallowed Ones. Her inner turmoil and emotions were palpable and nicely portrayed. But instead of delving further into her psych, the author decides to take a detour by bombarding us with Katie's newly acquired piousness. I mean, I don't mind a little religion in my book as long as it's not overwhelming. The staggering amount of time that 'God' was mentioned was ridiculous. I don't appreciate being reminded of it every time I turn to the next page.
If that doesn't irk me, I would say it's the contention of religion vs science that was starting to bug me. Alex and Katie are both stubborn in their belief but are smart enough not to let their minor disagreement come between their relationship. No. They did more than that. They were also successful in grating on my nerves.
I also didn't think religion would be quite so ubiquitous in this book. It's a novel about the Amish, their lifestyle and of course, vampires/zombies/undead (however you wish to call it). I'm well aware of that--of the Amish bits at least--and I reckon that I should have seen that coming from miles away. But that doesn't change the fact that this is a straight out YA novel, isn't it? Or has this book turned into some Christian fiction without my realising?
Katie's empathy towards the hollowed and ravenous animals was commendable. But it was also so very stupid at the same time. Her world has turned upside down and there's darkness lurking at every corner, don't you think it's a little unwise that she should personally release the animals--predators like wolves, bears, jaguars and the like--from their cages? Even a normal human being with minimal intelligence would think twice before they do anything that stupid. The reason? It's because animals are precious and sacred creatures...
Another scene that comes to mind was right after they had left 'Animal Farm' and winter was closing in on them. Ginger and Alex were smart enough to pilfer some warm clothing for themselves. Now that's what I call resourceful and practical. Or to put it simply, one would just call it as plain common sense. You'd think that she'd have that at least? But no. Her main priority is to adhere to the Amish code of dressing rather than wearing warm clothes. Apparently, dying of pneumonia is the least of her concerns. Death by vampires and hungry animals seem like likelier choices.
Now that I'm done with this book, all I can say is that I'm glad. Not in the happy, satisfied kind of way. More like 'Glad that's over!' I heard this book is part of a duology. It has an open ending, so I wouldn't be too surprised if the author decides to continue. If she does, I don't think I'll even deign to read it. It'll just be a waste of time. And besides, I don't see how the author can turn this story around for me. I'm far too gone. In spite of my pointy and not-so-very subtle assessment, I applaud the author's effort in producing a work of terrific imagery and vivid writing. But that's as far as my compliment would go, unfortunately.
September 5, 2013
After being banished from the only home she’s ever known Katie is on the run from the vampires. Accompanied by Alex, Ginger, and the white horse the group head north hoping to find new and families that they haven’t heard from in weeks. They spend the days traveling in the sunlight by night they fight to stay alive staying on holy ground when they can find it. The group comes across a private wildlife preserve with several predators wasting away having been forgotten with the vampire epidemic.
Katie risks her life to free the animals two tigers, a bear, jaguar and a wolf pack but one come back to join the group. After several days at the animal farm the group finds a nunnery that Ginger had been two as a child they are sure that they will be safe for the night. When they see the glowing red eyes in the trees it’s clear that the nuns have been turned and before they can make it to safety Ginger is bitten. Katie is heartbroken to lose her friend but vows to tell her family that she loves them.
The loss of Ginger is hard for Alex as well it causes him to question everything. When suddenly the pair finds two humans being attacked by vampires they risk their lives again to save someone else. However they are not alone because glowing people help scare off the vampires. They learn that they have a treatment that protects them from the vampires changing their DNA. Both Alex and Katie accept the injections with plans to return to their homes to spread the treatment. Will they make it home? Will there families still be alive?
I love Katie she’s one of my favorite characters because she refuses to change and stands up for what she believes in even if it’s not the Amish way. I think Alex is perfect for her in every way, he’s smart, he loves her for her, and he’s willing to risk his life to protect her. My heart went out to the pair when they had to stop Ginger’s transition to a vampire I don’t know if I could have done it.
The Outside is the next chapter in Katie and Alex’s story. I read the first one on a long deserted highway while on a road trip it was creepy and I saw vampires at least thought I did in the trees. The Outside I read during the afternoon late into the night, and my dreams were filled with red glowing vampires. I love the characters they aren't your typical vampire slayers after all Katie is a Amish girl. A captivating story that grabs you by the throat, and refuses to let go till the last page. Filled with scary vampires, adventure, romance, and big cats The Outside has everything to keep you entertained. I love that the vampires are scary it makes for an awesome scary story. The author has done a beautiful job creating another fantastic installment of The Hallowed Ones. I hope to see more from this series because I’m not ready to let Katie go just yet. A must read if you like creepy vampires and kick ass hero’s.
Katie risks her life to free the animals two tigers, a bear, jaguar and a wolf pack but one come back to join the group. After several days at the animal farm the group finds a nunnery that Ginger had been two as a child they are sure that they will be safe for the night. When they see the glowing red eyes in the trees it’s clear that the nuns have been turned and before they can make it to safety Ginger is bitten. Katie is heartbroken to lose her friend but vows to tell her family that she loves them.
The loss of Ginger is hard for Alex as well it causes him to question everything. When suddenly the pair finds two humans being attacked by vampires they risk their lives again to save someone else. However they are not alone because glowing people help scare off the vampires. They learn that they have a treatment that protects them from the vampires changing their DNA. Both Alex and Katie accept the injections with plans to return to their homes to spread the treatment. Will they make it home? Will there families still be alive?
I love Katie she’s one of my favorite characters because she refuses to change and stands up for what she believes in even if it’s not the Amish way. I think Alex is perfect for her in every way, he’s smart, he loves her for her, and he’s willing to risk his life to protect her. My heart went out to the pair when they had to stop Ginger’s transition to a vampire I don’t know if I could have done it.
The Outside is the next chapter in Katie and Alex’s story. I read the first one on a long deserted highway while on a road trip it was creepy and I saw vampires at least thought I did in the trees. The Outside I read during the afternoon late into the night, and my dreams were filled with red glowing vampires. I love the characters they aren't your typical vampire slayers after all Katie is a Amish girl. A captivating story that grabs you by the throat, and refuses to let go till the last page. Filled with scary vampires, adventure, romance, and big cats The Outside has everything to keep you entertained. I love that the vampires are scary it makes for an awesome scary story. The author has done a beautiful job creating another fantastic installment of The Hallowed Ones. I hope to see more from this series because I’m not ready to let Katie go just yet. A must read if you like creepy vampires and kick ass hero’s.
September 9, 2013
Most of this reads different with its combination of Amish girl in the outside world that’s been knocked down by some mysterious vampire making pathogen. But OUTSIDE’s whole thing is actually faith, yet not one bit of it had me feeling ‘preached at.’ It’s this that had me enjoying the story more. It’s dark, for sure, with them cast out as they were, struggling to find a safe place, and them encountering the odd, the miraculous, the maybe insane, and the obviously dangerous.
So I enjoyed this mainly because in the face of all that, there he was with each bit of knowledge shared about this religion or that article of faith or that particular belief/ myth/ notion, to which his Bonnet Girl was questioning things, wondering over things, and how they’d compare toher truth. So that I came away with one clear thing: the girl’s an absolute rock. At least for the most part especially about who she is, what she wants to be, and where she wants to be. Her world’s gone insane, but not her.
Now, there’s a cutesy bonus of animal sidekick here… a bonus that I, maybe, could have done without because it felt almost trite to me. But darn it, this was a good story over all. The mismatched pair that she and her anthropologist made: him doubting the role he was to perform, and her weighing things and seeing things through (though, maybe they weren’t completely mismatched?) Each thing/ person they’d encounter as well as and each place they’d make a stop in had them seeing who they were to each other and what they brought to the table. And I liked them both even more because there’s a truthful way to the way they see each other. It’s not a love conquer all thing between them but a connection borne out of necessity. And while there’s truth to that last, it’s happily not the only thing between them. Point is I like that they’re not blind to anything about the person they’re with.
Then the whole end of the world thing… it doesn’t change them… or does it? Heh. The way things are resolved felt almost easy. Only as I later saw, nothing comes easy in this one.
So I enjoyed this mainly because in the face of all that, there he was with each bit of knowledge shared about this religion or that article of faith or that particular belief/ myth/ notion, to which his Bonnet Girl was questioning things, wondering over things, and how they’d compare toher truth. So that I came away with one clear thing: the girl’s an absolute rock. At least for the most part especially about who she is, what she wants to be, and where she wants to be. Her world’s gone insane, but not her.
Now, there’s a cutesy bonus of animal sidekick here… a bonus that I, maybe, could have done without because it felt almost trite to me. But darn it, this was a good story over all. The mismatched pair that she and her anthropologist made: him doubting the role he was to perform, and her weighing things and seeing things through (though, maybe they weren’t completely mismatched?) Each thing/ person they’d encounter as well as and each place they’d make a stop in had them seeing who they were to each other and what they brought to the table. And I liked them both even more because there’s a truthful way to the way they see each other. It’s not a love conquer all thing between them but a connection borne out of necessity. And while there’s truth to that last, it’s happily not the only thing between them. Point is I like that they’re not blind to anything about the person they’re with.
Then the whole end of the world thing… it doesn’t change them… or does it? Heh. The way things are resolved felt almost easy. Only as I later saw, nothing comes easy in this one.
October 8, 2018
Second in The Hallowed Ones apocalyptic science fiction-horror series for Young Adult readers and revolving around Katie, a serious Amish girl, and Alex Greene, a college student.
My Take
Okay, so, The Outside was good, not as good as The Hallowed Ones , 1, but a good read with all the usual action when people have nowhere to go and are fleeing monsters. What's different in this tale of apocalyptic horror is Katie's reflections on religion. Her religion and everyone else's. It's an interesting conflict as Katie discovers that her religion is not the only one that offers protection from the vampires. That her way is not the only way to live in God's grace.
On the plus side, it's all about survival and doing the right thing. I know. Sometimes it's hard to tell. On the negative side, it's about power and jealousy, as we discover when those who think they are so "holy", ahem, are shown to be like any other man. Striking out from behind their "shields" to avoid hearing or seeing what they don't want to acknowledge. Hiding behind "righteousness", using religion as an excuse to do what you want. Yep, really knocks back that pride. Add in a community that does not question the rightness of their so-called superiors' decisions.
I do like Katie. She's a practical woman, and from Katie's perspective, using first person protagonist point-of-view, we see and hear only what Katie does. And I can definitely relate as she comes to understand the value of what she left behind. Lord knows, I got to missing 7-11s, iceberg lettuce(!), and choices in the stores when I lived in Sierra Leone!
It's a journey that allows Bickle to comment on the negatives of animal habitats and the unexpectedness of the Marian shrine with some delight thrown in when Alex and Katie discover the department store. I'm still not sure what Horace and Fenrir thought of it, lol.
Matt's explanation of his discovery was an odd blend of woo-woo and science, which just goes to show that one should never dismiss the possibilities. As for Elijah's backtracking, it does provide Bickle with the opportunity to inject a comment about "the emotional work of faith". And is she ever right. It is hard work to repent, and in turn, to forgive.
It's a journey in which Kate questions God with some thoughtful conclusions.
The Story
To be Outside is to die. Everyone knows this. And yet the Elders are so frightened, so in denial, that they insist on a strict observation of the Ordnung: Katie, Alex, and Ginger must be forced out into this world turned nightmare.
It is a world that is not safe for humans anymore, and the three of them flee with the day, struggling to stay alive.
The Characters
Katie "Bonnet" is a young Amish girl banished from her community along with the tattooed Alex Greene, an anthropology student fleeing the contagion whom Katie rescued. Cassia had been his girlfriend. Their white horse is Horace...a corruption of Horus. Fenrir is a wolf that attaches himself to them after he was freed.
Ginger Parsall is an Englisher who had been a friend of Katie's family, who was also banished. Her husband, Dan, is in the National Guard, and she believes he's safe. Their two children? Their son is still missing.
Water's Edge is...
...in the Great Lakes region and was originally a Methodist colony used for religious conferences. Judy, Keene knows something about horses, Cora is a nurse, and Matt is a biologist who taught at Case Western. Linh and Yen were on the road.
The Plain community
The Amish Elders refused to see the truth. Elijah Miller had been Katie's fiancé until his betrayal. Herr Stoltz is the Hexenmeister. Frau Gerlach is the midwife. Some of the Amish men have taken up arms, including Elijah(!) and Seth Beller. Sarah is Katie's little sister. Cooper and Sunny had been Katie's dogs.
The soldiers include...
...Captain Simmonds, Private Tobias who guards Katie, and Corporal Jasper who is a medic.
A Himmelsbrief is a petition to God on behalf of someone. A Hexenmeister does the Lord's work but differently from the clergy. Gelassenheit means to surrender to God's will. Rumpspringa is when young Amish are tested in the Outside world. The Ordnung are the Amish laws. Tobit is a righteous man with a son, Tobias; Sarah had lost seven husbands.
Pastor Gene was warned by the snakes. Masaru Emoto in Japan had done experiments with water. Quite interesting and makes me want to grab a microscope. Ya know, just in case...
The Cover and Title
The design of the cover is consistent with the look of the first story, The Hallowed Ones, with each unique to their tales. In this story, the cover is a range of grays, blues, and browns with a background of stormy-looking blue, gray, and purple clouds. The prominent element is Katie standing off-center, her long reddish brown hair pulled back from her face and blowing in the wind, in her elbow-length, below-the-knee plain blue dress, clutching her beige petition to God, as she stands hunched over in her dark calf-high boots in that wet and dirt strewn road. I'm guessing the dark figure retreating away from us is Alex in a long coat, carrying a bag, and striding away from us on his mission, an old, abandoned house on the left with a row of ravens hunched on the roofline.
A testimonial in cream is at the very top. The title is across Katie’s hips in a distressed gothic font with the series information immediately below it and a glow of gold to ensure you see it. Both are in white. The author’s name is at the very bottom, also in white.
The Outside is unprotected, unhallowed, and full of horrors that want to take you down.
My Take
Okay, so, The Outside was good, not as good as The Hallowed Ones , 1, but a good read with all the usual action when people have nowhere to go and are fleeing monsters. What's different in this tale of apocalyptic horror is Katie's reflections on religion. Her religion and everyone else's. It's an interesting conflict as Katie discovers that her religion is not the only one that offers protection from the vampires. That her way is not the only way to live in God's grace.
On the plus side, it's all about survival and doing the right thing. I know. Sometimes it's hard to tell. On the negative side, it's about power and jealousy, as we discover when those who think they are so "holy", ahem, are shown to be like any other man. Striking out from behind their "shields" to avoid hearing or seeing what they don't want to acknowledge. Hiding behind "righteousness", using religion as an excuse to do what you want. Yep, really knocks back that pride. Add in a community that does not question the rightness of their so-called superiors' decisions.
I do like Katie. She's a practical woman, and from Katie's perspective, using first person protagonist point-of-view, we see and hear only what Katie does. And I can definitely relate as she comes to understand the value of what she left behind. Lord knows, I got to missing 7-11s, iceberg lettuce(!), and choices in the stores when I lived in Sierra Leone!
It's a journey that allows Bickle to comment on the negatives of animal habitats and the unexpectedness of the Marian shrine with some delight thrown in when Alex and Katie discover the department store. I'm still not sure what Horace and Fenrir thought of it, lol.
Matt's explanation of his discovery was an odd blend of woo-woo and science, which just goes to show that one should never dismiss the possibilities. As for Elijah's backtracking, it does provide Bickle with the opportunity to inject a comment about "the emotional work of faith". And is she ever right. It is hard work to repent, and in turn, to forgive.
It's a journey in which Kate questions God with some thoughtful conclusions.
The Story
To be Outside is to die. Everyone knows this. And yet the Elders are so frightened, so in denial, that they insist on a strict observation of the Ordnung: Katie, Alex, and Ginger must be forced out into this world turned nightmare.
It is a world that is not safe for humans anymore, and the three of them flee with the day, struggling to stay alive.
The Characters
Katie "Bonnet" is a young Amish girl banished from her community along with the tattooed Alex Greene, an anthropology student fleeing the contagion whom Katie rescued. Cassia had been his girlfriend. Their white horse is Horace...a corruption of Horus. Fenrir is a wolf that attaches himself to them after he was freed.
Ginger Parsall is an Englisher who had been a friend of Katie's family, who was also banished. Her husband, Dan, is in the National Guard, and she believes he's safe. Their two children? Their son is still missing.
Water's Edge is...
...in the Great Lakes region and was originally a Methodist colony used for religious conferences. Judy, Keene knows something about horses, Cora is a nurse, and Matt is a biologist who taught at Case Western. Linh and Yen were on the road.
The Plain community
The Amish Elders refused to see the truth. Elijah Miller had been Katie's fiancé until his betrayal. Herr Stoltz is the Hexenmeister. Frau Gerlach is the midwife. Some of the Amish men have taken up arms, including Elijah(!) and Seth Beller. Sarah is Katie's little sister. Cooper and Sunny had been Katie's dogs.
The soldiers include...
...Captain Simmonds, Private Tobias who guards Katie, and Corporal Jasper who is a medic.
A Himmelsbrief is a petition to God on behalf of someone. A Hexenmeister does the Lord's work but differently from the clergy. Gelassenheit means to surrender to God's will. Rumpspringa is when young Amish are tested in the Outside world. The Ordnung are the Amish laws. Tobit is a righteous man with a son, Tobias; Sarah had lost seven husbands.
Pastor Gene was warned by the snakes. Masaru Emoto in Japan had done experiments with water. Quite interesting and makes me want to grab a microscope. Ya know, just in case...
The Cover and Title
The design of the cover is consistent with the look of the first story, The Hallowed Ones, with each unique to their tales. In this story, the cover is a range of grays, blues, and browns with a background of stormy-looking blue, gray, and purple clouds. The prominent element is Katie standing off-center, her long reddish brown hair pulled back from her face and blowing in the wind, in her elbow-length, below-the-knee plain blue dress, clutching her beige petition to God, as she stands hunched over in her dark calf-high boots in that wet and dirt strewn road. I'm guessing the dark figure retreating away from us is Alex in a long coat, carrying a bag, and striding away from us on his mission, an old, abandoned house on the left with a row of ravens hunched on the roofline.
A testimonial in cream is at the very top. The title is across Katie’s hips in a distressed gothic font with the series information immediately below it and a glow of gold to ensure you see it. Both are in white. The author’s name is at the very bottom, also in white.
The Outside is unprotected, unhallowed, and full of horrors that want to take you down.
September 26, 2013
Five stars: An incredible sequel that shows one girl's journey of self discovery through the vampire decimated country.
Katie sees the promising tendrils of light fingering over the horizon. She offers a quick prayer of thanks that she and her friends survived another night. Since Katie was banished from the only home she has ever known, she has been wandering the country with Alex and Ginger trying to find some signs of civilization and hope after the devastating vampire decimation. Unfortunately, they find mostly ruins, and at night they must fend off the frightening vampires. Katie begins to question her faith and wonders how God could let something like this happen. Is it truly the end of the world? Can Katie survive on the Outside?
What I Liked:
*Once again I was thoroughly impressed with Ms. Bickle's amazing story telling. This is a book that will grasp you from the first pages and plunge you into the terrifying aftermath of a vampire infestation. I loved that this is not only a tale of survival but one of self discovery. Katie after being banished from her Amish home is questioning everything she has been taught. Her faith falters and she begins to see that not everything can easily fall into the good or evil category. For instance is it murder to kill someone who asks you to in order to prevent them from becoming a vampire? Is it stealing when you take supplies in order to survive? Katie grapples with what she has been taught and what she must do to stay alive. With Alex at her side, she begins to learn about other religions and science. I loved watching her open her mind to new concepts and seeing her grow. Katie comes a long way from the sheltered Amish girl longing to escape on Rumspringa.
*I appreciated the amount of research that went into this book. Ms. Bickle in The Hallowed Ones brought us the world of the Amish with all of its teachings and strict practices. This time around, she incorporates other religions. There is an encounter with a Pentecostal preacher that was an eye opening experience. Word of advice, don't read that scene right before bed, I had dreams about snakes! Sprinkled throughout the book are other stories and religious ideas that involve the end of the world and so forth. I loved reading and learning the various stories and prophecies regarding end times from numerous religions. It was fascinating. Along with the religious ideas, there is also a dose of interesting science. I was very much impressed with the scientific ideas presented, and I could tell that Ms. Bickle did some detailed research.
*In this book, the long debate of science vs. religion is revisited. Katie, being Amish, believes that the vampire epidemic is due to evil forces. On her journey, she meets some people who believe that it is a man made plague and that there is a scientific explanation for the vampires. Who is right? That is left up to the reader. Perhaps it is a bit of both? Katie encounters the science and is forced to make a decision. Does she accept the scientific cure and try and take it back to her people or shun it as it isn't from God? Even if she makes it back to the village would they accept a scientific cure since it goes against their religious beliefs?
*I liked that the romance between Katie and Alex is based on a solid friendship and partnership. The two grow as they learn about each other and face the devastation around them. Alex teaches her about the modern world while she educates him on her faith in God. Some of my favorite scenes involved Alex trying to explain things in the real world such as adult book stores and The Jersey Shore. Their relationship is genuine and realistic and I loved watching them grow together.
*I was pleased at the final outcome, and I liked the way everything played out. I was most impressed with Katie's growth and transformation. She is an admirable young woman who I greatly admired by the end of the book. Her strength and courage is tremendous, and I loved how she has such a big heart when it comes to animals. I especially liked the way she opened up and accepted new ideas. I also liked that there was resolution with people from her past. Everything settles out and it appears this is the end of the series, but yet, there are still a few threads that could be explored in a sequel. I hope that there will be another book!
And The Not So Much:
*Even though I liked the way everything wrapped up, I wanted more. I wished the Epilogue was a little longer. I longed to know more about the vampire infestation, how widespread was it? What caused it? How was humanity fighting back? I guess, though, Ms. Bickle didn't spell it all out because she wanted to leave it up to the reader to decide. Were the vampires caused by the Evil that has plagued man from the beginning or was it from man wielding science in a deadly manner?
*I don't want to give too much away so I will be brief on this point. Katie awakens at the end to find some big changes. I was a bit disappointed that the vote and ousting of the leadership wasn't more detailed. I would liked to have witnessed the meeting and see why and how the people changed their minds regarding the current thinking and leadership and their stance toward Katie and Alex. It is always interesting to see change come to those who are deep rooted in their current belief systems.
The Outside is a terrific and satisfying conclusion. It is a book that gives us a young, sheltered Amish girl who undergoes a tremendous transformation as she explores the outside world and opens up to new ideas involving other religions and science. This is so much more than a scary vampire book, and I truly hope that you will take this incredible journey with Katie so you can further explore good vs. evil and God vs. science.
Favorite Quotations:
"Evil," Alex said. "Not just the contagion. When people are forced into a crucible like that, they start biting each other like rats. Power becomes an end unto itself. Evil is an inevitable sociological fact."
"I think that much of it was that we've been moving too far into the future. In the modern world, God exists as an abstract. Everyone wanted to believe in sunshine. But not the Darkness. Not in evil."
"In a strange way, it was hard to believe in an absolute good when I knew there was absolute evil in the world."
"Turning toward Darkness is a gradual process in all things."
"One of the things that I was beginning to learn was that kindness is often brutal. And that there was blood on all the survivors' hands."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Katie sees the promising tendrils of light fingering over the horizon. She offers a quick prayer of thanks that she and her friends survived another night. Since Katie was banished from the only home she has ever known, she has been wandering the country with Alex and Ginger trying to find some signs of civilization and hope after the devastating vampire decimation. Unfortunately, they find mostly ruins, and at night they must fend off the frightening vampires. Katie begins to question her faith and wonders how God could let something like this happen. Is it truly the end of the world? Can Katie survive on the Outside?
What I Liked:
*Once again I was thoroughly impressed with Ms. Bickle's amazing story telling. This is a book that will grasp you from the first pages and plunge you into the terrifying aftermath of a vampire infestation. I loved that this is not only a tale of survival but one of self discovery. Katie after being banished from her Amish home is questioning everything she has been taught. Her faith falters and she begins to see that not everything can easily fall into the good or evil category. For instance is it murder to kill someone who asks you to in order to prevent them from becoming a vampire? Is it stealing when you take supplies in order to survive? Katie grapples with what she has been taught and what she must do to stay alive. With Alex at her side, she begins to learn about other religions and science. I loved watching her open her mind to new concepts and seeing her grow. Katie comes a long way from the sheltered Amish girl longing to escape on Rumspringa.
*I appreciated the amount of research that went into this book. Ms. Bickle in The Hallowed Ones brought us the world of the Amish with all of its teachings and strict practices. This time around, she incorporates other religions. There is an encounter with a Pentecostal preacher that was an eye opening experience. Word of advice, don't read that scene right before bed, I had dreams about snakes! Sprinkled throughout the book are other stories and religious ideas that involve the end of the world and so forth. I loved reading and learning the various stories and prophecies regarding end times from numerous religions. It was fascinating. Along with the religious ideas, there is also a dose of interesting science. I was very much impressed with the scientific ideas presented, and I could tell that Ms. Bickle did some detailed research.
*In this book, the long debate of science vs. religion is revisited. Katie, being Amish, believes that the vampire epidemic is due to evil forces. On her journey, she meets some people who believe that it is a man made plague and that there is a scientific explanation for the vampires. Who is right? That is left up to the reader. Perhaps it is a bit of both? Katie encounters the science and is forced to make a decision. Does she accept the scientific cure and try and take it back to her people or shun it as it isn't from God? Even if she makes it back to the village would they accept a scientific cure since it goes against their religious beliefs?
*I liked that the romance between Katie and Alex is based on a solid friendship and partnership. The two grow as they learn about each other and face the devastation around them. Alex teaches her about the modern world while she educates him on her faith in God. Some of my favorite scenes involved Alex trying to explain things in the real world such as adult book stores and The Jersey Shore. Their relationship is genuine and realistic and I loved watching them grow together.
*I was pleased at the final outcome, and I liked the way everything played out. I was most impressed with Katie's growth and transformation. She is an admirable young woman who I greatly admired by the end of the book. Her strength and courage is tremendous, and I loved how she has such a big heart when it comes to animals. I especially liked the way she opened up and accepted new ideas. I also liked that there was resolution with people from her past. Everything settles out and it appears this is the end of the series, but yet, there are still a few threads that could be explored in a sequel. I hope that there will be another book!
And The Not So Much:
*Even though I liked the way everything wrapped up, I wanted more. I wished the Epilogue was a little longer. I longed to know more about the vampire infestation, how widespread was it? What caused it? How was humanity fighting back? I guess, though, Ms. Bickle didn't spell it all out because she wanted to leave it up to the reader to decide. Were the vampires caused by the Evil that has plagued man from the beginning or was it from man wielding science in a deadly manner?
*I don't want to give too much away so I will be brief on this point. Katie awakens at the end to find some big changes. I was a bit disappointed that the vote and ousting of the leadership wasn't more detailed. I would liked to have witnessed the meeting and see why and how the people changed their minds regarding the current thinking and leadership and their stance toward Katie and Alex. It is always interesting to see change come to those who are deep rooted in their current belief systems.
The Outside is a terrific and satisfying conclusion. It is a book that gives us a young, sheltered Amish girl who undergoes a tremendous transformation as she explores the outside world and opens up to new ideas involving other religions and science. This is so much more than a scary vampire book, and I truly hope that you will take this incredible journey with Katie so you can further explore good vs. evil and God vs. science.
Favorite Quotations:
"Evil," Alex said. "Not just the contagion. When people are forced into a crucible like that, they start biting each other like rats. Power becomes an end unto itself. Evil is an inevitable sociological fact."
"I think that much of it was that we've been moving too far into the future. In the modern world, God exists as an abstract. Everyone wanted to believe in sunshine. But not the Darkness. Not in evil."
"In a strange way, it was hard to believe in an absolute good when I knew there was absolute evil in the world."
"Turning toward Darkness is a gradual process in all things."
"One of the things that I was beginning to learn was that kindness is often brutal. And that there was blood on all the survivors' hands."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
November 6, 2020
I rather enjoyed The Hallowed Ones, a mild horror story about vampires invading an Amish community during the end of the world, but unfortunately the sequel just wasn’t at the same caliber.
The Outside was entertaining from start to finish, but it was just too ridiculous and unrealistic for me to rate it anything higher than two stars. Katie turned into the dumbest protagonist I’ve ever seen, making decisions that no normal or sane person would make, and it felt like so much unnecessary drama was happening just to further the plot and make the story more exciting.
I think the first book can be read as a stand-alone if you don’t mind an ambiguous ending, but the sequel does add some clarity to what happens after. There were some bits about science that I found really cool, and the story took a direction I didn’t expect, but ultimately I don’t know if it was worth reading the whole book to get to the ending, even though I thought the ending was hopeful and satisfactory. I kind of feel like I should have just read a spoilery summary of this book instead.
Somehow this 300-page novel felt like it was twice as long as its actual page count. I was never bored with it, but I did spend the entire story nudging my husband and saying, “Guess what stupid thing she did this time?” with a chuckle and an eye roll. If you decide to read this book, definitely pick it up for the entertainment factor and not for a quality story. It was cheesy and kinda fun, but overall not the best.
The Outside was entertaining from start to finish, but it was just too ridiculous and unrealistic for me to rate it anything higher than two stars. Katie turned into the dumbest protagonist I’ve ever seen, making decisions that no normal or sane person would make, and it felt like so much unnecessary drama was happening just to further the plot and make the story more exciting.
I think the first book can be read as a stand-alone if you don’t mind an ambiguous ending, but the sequel does add some clarity to what happens after. There were some bits about science that I found really cool, and the story took a direction I didn’t expect, but ultimately I don’t know if it was worth reading the whole book to get to the ending, even though I thought the ending was hopeful and satisfactory. I kind of feel like I should have just read a spoilery summary of this book instead.
Somehow this 300-page novel felt like it was twice as long as its actual page count. I was never bored with it, but I did spend the entire story nudging my husband and saying, “Guess what stupid thing she did this time?” with a chuckle and an eye roll. If you decide to read this book, definitely pick it up for the entertainment factor and not for a quality story. It was cheesy and kinda fun, but overall not the best.
May 16, 2021
Una novela apocalíptica que concluye la historia empezada en The Hallowed Ones. Es terror de supervivencia con una prosa reflexiva y madura que me ha maravillado.
Leí el primero hace años y esta segunda parte es impresionante. Desde el punto de vista de una chica que vive en una comunidad tipo Amish, trata sobre el choque de moral y tradiciones religiosas con la lucha por la vida a pesar del sacrificio, el cambio espiritual y la contradicción de las convicciones.
En el primer libro, conocemos la comunidad de Katie, su estilo de vida, la sospecha de que el Mal campa en el exterior en forma de virus que convierte a los seres humanos en vampiros. Ella acoge en secreto a un chico herido y surge un despertar de los sentimientos y la curiosidad. En el libro final, ella, el chico y otra mujer han sido expulsados de la comunidad y deben enfrentarse al exterior infestado de vampiros. El mundo ha caído bajo su azote y pocos sobreviven. Me ha fascinado la fuerza de las palabras de la autora. Enfrenta a sus personajes a terrores infinitos. Luchan contra ciudadanos conversos en monstruos, se refugian como pueden, piensan en un futuro incierto y tratan de conservar la humanidad.
La evolución de la historia es tremenda. Van descubriendo que los lugares espirituales afectan a los vampiros y la ciencia también halla un arma portentosa e inusual contra ellos. Esa dualidad de religión y ciencia es omnipresente en la novela a través de los protagonistas. Hay cariño y sensibilidad, hay muerte y agonía, hay valor y pesar. Me han encantado todas las escenas y el final es sublime. Recomendadísima bilogía.
Leí el primero hace años y esta segunda parte es impresionante. Desde el punto de vista de una chica que vive en una comunidad tipo Amish, trata sobre el choque de moral y tradiciones religiosas con la lucha por la vida a pesar del sacrificio, el cambio espiritual y la contradicción de las convicciones.
En el primer libro, conocemos la comunidad de Katie, su estilo de vida, la sospecha de que el Mal campa en el exterior en forma de virus que convierte a los seres humanos en vampiros. Ella acoge en secreto a un chico herido y surge un despertar de los sentimientos y la curiosidad. En el libro final, ella, el chico y otra mujer han sido expulsados de la comunidad y deben enfrentarse al exterior infestado de vampiros. El mundo ha caído bajo su azote y pocos sobreviven. Me ha fascinado la fuerza de las palabras de la autora. Enfrenta a sus personajes a terrores infinitos. Luchan contra ciudadanos conversos en monstruos, se refugian como pueden, piensan en un futuro incierto y tratan de conservar la humanidad.
La evolución de la historia es tremenda. Van descubriendo que los lugares espirituales afectan a los vampiros y la ciencia también halla un arma portentosa e inusual contra ellos. Esa dualidad de religión y ciencia es omnipresente en la novela a través de los protagonistas. Hay cariño y sensibilidad, hay muerte y agonía, hay valor y pesar. Me han encantado todas las escenas y el final es sublime. Recomendadísima bilogía.
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