What do you think?
Rate this book
American Rapture
From CJ Leede, the author of Maeve Fly and a new voice in the feminist horror space, comes a scorching new apocalyptic novel.
Blessed are the meek, Sophie was taught; blessed are the pure of heart. Blessed is the good Catholic girl who honours her father and mother, who renounces the sins of pride, greed, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth, for she will inherit the earth.
But nothing in her strict religious upbring could have prepared Sophie for the arrival of the scorching winds that sweep through the Midwest - not the righteous breath of God, but an evil gust that delivers an ungodly, fevered lust unto the virtuous and the wicked alike.
Separated from her family in the chaos of the apocalypse, Sophie is overcome by an unfamiliar fire from within, a steady pulse from somewhere beneath her belly that draws her toward the boys her mother warned her against: their eyes, their lips, their hands, their skin. The hellscape around her is foreign and strange, but so is the frantic desire that blooms in Sophie, tempting her away from the light. Though her own body has become a carnal battleground, she must somehow find her way through the ravaged world to rescue her brother, hoping the fever hasn't taken him; hoping he can still be saved.
'Keep an eye on this rising feminist voice' Tori Amos
Blessed are the meek, Sophie was taught; blessed are the pure of heart. Blessed is the good Catholic girl who honours her father and mother, who renounces the sins of pride, greed, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth, for she will inherit the earth.
But nothing in her strict religious upbring could have prepared Sophie for the arrival of the scorching winds that sweep through the Midwest - not the righteous breath of God, but an evil gust that delivers an ungodly, fevered lust unto the virtuous and the wicked alike.
Separated from her family in the chaos of the apocalypse, Sophie is overcome by an unfamiliar fire from within, a steady pulse from somewhere beneath her belly that draws her toward the boys her mother warned her against: their eyes, their lips, their hands, their skin. The hellscape around her is foreign and strange, but so is the frantic desire that blooms in Sophie, tempting her away from the light. Though her own body has become a carnal battleground, she must somehow find her way through the ravaged world to rescue her brother, hoping the fever hasn't taken him; hoping he can still be saved.
'Keep an eye on this rising feminist voice' Tori Amos
Audiobook
First published October 15, 2024
1128 people are currently reading
35550 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Leede
6 books1,957 followersCJ LEEDE is a horror writer, hiker, and Trekkie. She is the author of Maeve Fly and American Rapture. Her debut novel Maeve Fly won the Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award and Splatterpunk Award, and earned a Bram Stoker Award nomination. When she is not driving around the country, CJ can be found in LA with her boyfriend and rescue dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,694 reviews
July 7, 2025
America is burning. A virus has mutated, and after the initial flu-like symptoms, the infected enter a lust-fueled psychosis. The resulting violence is indiscriminate, creating an apocalyptic hellscape where rape, mutilation, and murder are omnipresent, just like Jesus and germs. Sophie is on a devout mission to find her family amidst the carnage, and along her journey she experiences quite the blasphemous conversion for a good catholic girl, complete with soul-liberating revelations and a sacrilegious sexual awakening. This is a coming-of-age novel like no other: being a teenage girl is already hellacious as it is, but Sophie must navigate raging hormones, excruciating catholic guilt, and exorcize her own inner demons all while trying to survive in a world that seems to be feverishly ablaze from divine retribution.
In the wake of the 2020 pandemic just a few years ago, a current political zealot in power who aggressively flames the enthusiasms of extremist groups and the patriarchy as a whole, and with the shocking regression of rights that women and other marginalized groups are grimly facing in America, C J Leede has written an especially poignant story that resonates deeply with the reader in highly personal and realistic ways. Religious mania is a particular flavor of horror I find the most disturbing and sleep depriving, and reading this book created an endless supply of my very own nightmare kindling; however, I read this book in just two days! It is certainly less gory than Maeve Fly, but nonetheless, just as provocative and psychologically complex. American Rapture is bloody and bold. It shines a light on taboo topics most shy away from, such as the enduring traumatic blessings organized religion bestows to each new generation or the widespread misogyny across many religions, ostensibly disguised as pious conviction but truthfully designed by sanctimonious men to diminish and prey upon others. There were many raw moments in the story that had me wiping away tears just to continue reading. This book will totally annihilate you emotionally, but it will also tenderly deliver you to the other side, enlightened and reflective. Remember, America is burning.
To the author directly: My deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved doggie, may he rest in peace. He was clearly a legendary good boy. The author’s note you wrote for your readers was so heart achingly intimate and genuine; it totally ruined me. Your candid thoughts on grief and death were illuminating, and personally, they were very cathartic sit with. Thank you for this book.
In the wake of the 2020 pandemic just a few years ago, a current political zealot in power who aggressively flames the enthusiasms of extremist groups and the patriarchy as a whole, and with the shocking regression of rights that women and other marginalized groups are grimly facing in America, C J Leede has written an especially poignant story that resonates deeply with the reader in highly personal and realistic ways. Religious mania is a particular flavor of horror I find the most disturbing and sleep depriving, and reading this book created an endless supply of my very own nightmare kindling; however, I read this book in just two days! It is certainly less gory than Maeve Fly, but nonetheless, just as provocative and psychologically complex. American Rapture is bloody and bold. It shines a light on taboo topics most shy away from, such as the enduring traumatic blessings organized religion bestows to each new generation or the widespread misogyny across many religions, ostensibly disguised as pious conviction but truthfully designed by sanctimonious men to diminish and prey upon others. There were many raw moments in the story that had me wiping away tears just to continue reading. This book will totally annihilate you emotionally, but it will also tenderly deliver you to the other side, enlightened and reflective. Remember, America is burning.
To the author directly: My deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved doggie, may he rest in peace. He was clearly a legendary good boy. The author’s note you wrote for your readers was so heart achingly intimate and genuine; it totally ruined me. Your candid thoughts on grief and death were illuminating, and personally, they were very cathartic sit with. Thank you for this book.
June 4, 2024
im so sad this wasn't for me because maeve fly was my #2 of 2023. im not a fan of choppy fragmented writing styles that just set the scene & tell me things instead of showing me.
also HUGE TW for the most horrific dog death ive ever read.
I trudged through 60% of this, but the author's note at the end was great.
also HUGE TW for the most horrific dog death ive ever read.
I trudged through 60% of this, but the author's note at the end was great.
May 23, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an ARC.
Wow wow wow. I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t read the author’s previous work (but now I will). This was incredible. Sixteen year old Sophie is coming of age during a virus outbreak. She’s been sheltered her entire life, raised Catholic in a small town. We watch her grapple with what she’s been taught and what she finds as she goes on this journey throughout the novel. She meets many people who all are all great side characters. I usually don’t like first person POV, but here it was necessary, because we are seeing her thoughts and beliefs be challenged. I was scared, stressed, sad. And then the ending? I’m not okay. Highly recommend.
Also thanks to my friend Alyssa for recommending this, I should listen to her more.
Wow wow wow. I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t read the author’s previous work (but now I will). This was incredible. Sixteen year old Sophie is coming of age during a virus outbreak. She’s been sheltered her entire life, raised Catholic in a small town. We watch her grapple with what she’s been taught and what she finds as she goes on this journey throughout the novel. She meets many people who all are all great side characters. I usually don’t like first person POV, but here it was necessary, because we are seeing her thoughts and beliefs be challenged. I was scared, stressed, sad. And then the ending? I’m not okay. Highly recommend.
Also thanks to my friend Alyssa for recommending this, I should listen to her more.
September 29, 2024
There is a story here somewhere for someone else, but not me.
We follow a 16 year-old girl, who has been shielded all her life from the outside and brought up very religiously, go out into the world after a pandemic which causes the infected to feel lust and want to have sex breaks out. So you have lots of people raping or attempting to rape people on the streets.
This is a coming of age story of an mc who was not very interesting to follow, and even after her journey and transformation, way too religious-thinking for my taste.
I received an advanced listening copy from Libro FM via the Otherland Bookshop. Concerning the audiobook version, I didn't click with the narrator at all. The prolonging of the endings of sentences maybe in a bid to give a more dramatic or poetic flair, is really not necessary when you're describing your basic pervert rape apocalypse.
We follow a 16 year-old girl, who has been shielded all her life from the outside and brought up very religiously, go out into the world after a pandemic which causes the infected to feel lust and want to have sex breaks out. So you have lots of people raping or attempting to rape people on the streets.
This is a coming of age story of an mc who was not very interesting to follow, and even after her journey and transformation, way too religious-thinking for my taste.
I received an advanced listening copy from Libro FM via the Otherland Bookshop. Concerning the audiobook version, I didn't click with the narrator at all. The prolonging of the endings of sentences maybe in a bid to give a more dramatic or poetic flair, is really not necessary when you're describing your basic pervert rape apocalypse.
April 7, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Damn, Sophie is horny…
Dogmatic sexual repression and a sexually overt zombie pandemic is quite the combo. Throw in a few blurred lines, a band of violent religious zealots and a nomadic, destination-less quest and you got yourself a doozy.
I thought this book was a bit of a meandering mess if I’m being honest. Its premise was captivating but I never felt compelled by any larger, guiding force. I didn’t actually know what the end goal was. It was a quest for the sake of questing.
Let’s talk about Sophie… When she’s not lusting over the next breathing thing sitting next to her, she’s obsessively looking for her brother. Those are about her only two modes. I found the story to be quite flat because of this, and her two-dimensional construct hurt the book.
And the plot… Hey, should we stop for a while in this insane, fever dream house with low ceilings, animatronic polka bands and tiny angels flying everywhere? Yea, sounds cool. It beats the Cheese Fortress we were just at. I bet we’ll be safe here. While stylistically interesting, I didn’t understand how the setting fit into the broader world, or what purpose it served to advance what I thought was supposed to be the main thrust… you know, the zombie apocalypse. At a certain point the zombies stop mattering.
I think Leede is an amazing author, and I loved Maeve Fly, but this one just didn’t land with me.
Damn, Sophie is horny…
Dogmatic sexual repression and a sexually overt zombie pandemic is quite the combo. Throw in a few blurred lines, a band of violent religious zealots and a nomadic, destination-less quest and you got yourself a doozy.
I thought this book was a bit of a meandering mess if I’m being honest. Its premise was captivating but I never felt compelled by any larger, guiding force. I didn’t actually know what the end goal was. It was a quest for the sake of questing.
Let’s talk about Sophie… When she’s not lusting over the next breathing thing sitting next to her, she’s obsessively looking for her brother. Those are about her only two modes. I found the story to be quite flat because of this, and her two-dimensional construct hurt the book.
And the plot… Hey, should we stop for a while in this insane, fever dream house with low ceilings, animatronic polka bands and tiny angels flying everywhere? Yea, sounds cool. It beats the Cheese Fortress we were just at. I bet we’ll be safe here. While stylistically interesting, I didn’t understand how the setting fit into the broader world, or what purpose it served to advance what I thought was supposed to be the main thrust… you know, the zombie apocalypse. At a certain point the zombies stop mattering.
I think Leede is an amazing author, and I loved Maeve Fly, but this one just didn’t land with me.
March 30, 2025
3.5* I enjoyed this but I felt like there was something missing for me. Could definitely just be a me thing, but it still had great moments. Maeve Fly was more my jam but I’d still recommend this one.
(It also has a pretty brutal dog death, so TW for that)
(It also has a pretty brutal dog death, so TW for that)
November 27, 2025
**4.5-stars**
💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙
Oofhhh. American Rapture hit me like a punch to the gut. The Afterword made me cry legitimate grown-lady tears.
This is such a well-executed Apocalypse story; completely successful, IMO, with the topics Leede chose to explore. This is going to stick in my mind for a very long time.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room, shall we? Maeve Fly. When I read Maeve Fly last year, I found it to be shocking, yes, but also smart and visceral.
That story was presented in a biting stream of consciousness narrative style from the perspective of the MC. That type of narrative choice isn't my favorite and I often find myself struggling to determine what exactly the author is hoping for me to get out of it.
American Rapture is nothing like Maeve Fly.
I mean, I guess I shouldn't say that, because in some ways it is. It's also smart and visceral, as well as certainly memorable, but the tone throughout, and the way the story is presented, is vastly different.
This is a truly realistic Apocalypse story. We follow a teen girl named, Sophie, who was raised in an extremely zealous Catholic household.
Sophie has been very sheltered from the world, and as you get to know her, she feels emotionally stunted; certainly more naive than she should be at her age.
We discover that she has a twin brother, Noah, who has been removed from the household and sent away for unknown reasons. On the brink of the societal collapse, Sophie sets out to try to find him. On her own for the first time, Sophie is quickly schooled in the ways of the world.
The synopsis alludes to sexual elements and sex, as well as sexuality, are def amongst the topics explored here.
The virus in question has many symptoms, but one of the most shocking is that infected individuals act out in sexual ways, often attacking in violent, lust-filled rages. Sophie is witness to these on more than a few occasions.
For Sophie, having been completely sexually repressed, this is beyond incomprehensible. She was on the verge of her own sexual awakening when this all started, which further complicates her confusion, guilt and shame.
In a lot of ways, Sophie made me think of Carrie White. This is what would have happened if an Apocalypse had hit just prior to Carrie going to the prom.
I did love going on this journey with Sophie though. I had such empathy for her. I wished I could have been there to help guide her and reassure her through many of her most difficult moments; clearly, her parents were useless.
I will be honest, I did skip Chapter 44. I had been warned ahead of time of some content contained therein, that because of circumstances going on in my life, I wouldn't have handled well at the moment.
Even skipping that chapter though, I still feel like I easily understood everything that was happening in the story directly thereafter.
I did listen to the audiobook and loved the narration by Moniqua Plante. They did a great job bringing Sophie to life. I felt like I was listening to her recount these events first hand. It drew me in and held me.
I do feel like even though disaster struck numerous times over the course of this story, the world was literally falling apart, it nevertheless left me with a sense of hope and light.
An understanding that no matter what you are going through, no matter what your losses, as long as you are breathing, you can push through. You can come out the other side, maybe not the same, not undamaged, but alive and with the chance to be happy again.
If you pick this up, and I recommend you do, please be sure to read the Author's Note at the end. I appreciate the novel even more after learning a bit about Leede's own journey and the struggles that she had recently been going through.
I feel she put a lot of heart into this story. It's thoughtful, impactful and gripping throughout. I was really impressed, and more importantly, moved by it.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
It's clear that C.J. Leede is an incredible talent with a lot of versatility in her writing. I cannot wait for more!!!
💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙
Oofhhh. American Rapture hit me like a punch to the gut. The Afterword made me cry legitimate grown-lady tears.
This is such a well-executed Apocalypse story; completely successful, IMO, with the topics Leede chose to explore. This is going to stick in my mind for a very long time.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room, shall we? Maeve Fly. When I read Maeve Fly last year, I found it to be shocking, yes, but also smart and visceral.
That story was presented in a biting stream of consciousness narrative style from the perspective of the MC. That type of narrative choice isn't my favorite and I often find myself struggling to determine what exactly the author is hoping for me to get out of it.
American Rapture is nothing like Maeve Fly.
I mean, I guess I shouldn't say that, because in some ways it is. It's also smart and visceral, as well as certainly memorable, but the tone throughout, and the way the story is presented, is vastly different.
This is a truly realistic Apocalypse story. We follow a teen girl named, Sophie, who was raised in an extremely zealous Catholic household.
Sophie has been very sheltered from the world, and as you get to know her, she feels emotionally stunted; certainly more naive than she should be at her age.
We discover that she has a twin brother, Noah, who has been removed from the household and sent away for unknown reasons. On the brink of the societal collapse, Sophie sets out to try to find him. On her own for the first time, Sophie is quickly schooled in the ways of the world.
The synopsis alludes to sexual elements and sex, as well as sexuality, are def amongst the topics explored here.
The virus in question has many symptoms, but one of the most shocking is that infected individuals act out in sexual ways, often attacking in violent, lust-filled rages. Sophie is witness to these on more than a few occasions.
For Sophie, having been completely sexually repressed, this is beyond incomprehensible. She was on the verge of her own sexual awakening when this all started, which further complicates her confusion, guilt and shame.
In a lot of ways, Sophie made me think of Carrie White. This is what would have happened if an Apocalypse had hit just prior to Carrie going to the prom.
I did love going on this journey with Sophie though. I had such empathy for her. I wished I could have been there to help guide her and reassure her through many of her most difficult moments; clearly, her parents were useless.
I will be honest, I did skip Chapter 44. I had been warned ahead of time of some content contained therein, that because of circumstances going on in my life, I wouldn't have handled well at the moment.
Even skipping that chapter though, I still feel like I easily understood everything that was happening in the story directly thereafter.
I did listen to the audiobook and loved the narration by Moniqua Plante. They did a great job bringing Sophie to life. I felt like I was listening to her recount these events first hand. It drew me in and held me.
I do feel like even though disaster struck numerous times over the course of this story, the world was literally falling apart, it nevertheless left me with a sense of hope and light.
An understanding that no matter what you are going through, no matter what your losses, as long as you are breathing, you can push through. You can come out the other side, maybe not the same, not undamaged, but alive and with the chance to be happy again.
If you pick this up, and I recommend you do, please be sure to read the Author's Note at the end. I appreciate the novel even more after learning a bit about Leede's own journey and the struggles that she had recently been going through.
I feel she put a lot of heart into this story. It's thoughtful, impactful and gripping throughout. I was really impressed, and more importantly, moved by it.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
It's clear that C.J. Leede is an incredible talent with a lot of versatility in her writing. I cannot wait for more!!!
June 2, 2025
Title/Author- American Rapture by C.J. Leede
Page Count: 384 pages
Publisher: Nightfire
Format: I read the Kindle Unlimited edition & I bought the audiobook from Libro FM--did both. Quick note on the audiobook: The narrator is not my favorite-a very sultry, breathy voice and speaking style/flow that took some getting used to-not really my cup of tea
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Maeve Fly
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978125085...
Release Date: October 15th, 2025
General Genre: Apocalypse, Horror
Sub-Genre/Themes: Coming-of-Age, teen girl, Catholicism, pandemic/disease, family, sexuality, romance, sheltered upbringing, siblings, family, "found family", homophobia, religious oppression, survival, "band of survivors", death/grief/loss CW: The dog dies in this
Writing Style: Thought-provoking, compelling, authentic (flawed) characters, suspenseful
What You Need to Know: "A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust. Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin" --NoveList
My Reading Experience: I went into this book with extremely high expectations. I have heard nothing but good things. (Maybe one or two strongly worded negative reviews but this did not sway me. *and this is just a gentle reminder that just because a reader you admire or respect didn't enjoy a book, doesn't mean you shouldn't read it for yourself. I would have missed out on this amazing experience had I listened to one reviewer who is pretty persuasive)
American Rapture is one of those books that is immediately engaging. I invested in the main character immediately. I love apocalyptic fiction that starts at the beginning when everything is sliding off the rails into chaos. I also enjoyed that the MC is young and lived a sheltered life within the confines of a strict Catholic family and private school. This made her survival in this pandemic setting so unique and interesting--to have her worldview
I also enjoyed her "mission" and purpose for going out into the world--the pandemic becomes a catalyst for her awakening but it also served as her escape so she could find her brother. This served the story well in so many ways.
The found family/band of survivors element was organic and exciting. The way people joined together and became fast friends--companions--moved the story along and kept things interesting/dynamic. I loved the way different people brought out new characteristics of Sophie's personality as she discovered new things about herself.
There was only one part I thought was strange--things go off into a more fever-dream world toward the latter part of the story. It was a weird separation from reality and I just sort of went along with it and allowed space for the change so it didn't hinder my enjoyment *too* much but it definitely interrupted the flow I was used to at that point.
For the most part, I am the exact audience for a book like this. It's everything I show up for in horror.
Final Recommendation: This book is perfect for fans of horror with heart, coming-of-age horror fiction, apocalypse "band of survivors" and "found family stories, readers who are interested in exploring themes of religious trauma and deconstructing from a fundamentalist conservative religious upbringing/worldview with staunch conservative, harmful doctrines. Please be warned of the tragic loss of a faithful canine companion. I was warned and chose to skip it (around the 320 mark). There's an author's note addressing the choice at the end if you decide to be brave
Comps: The Unworthy (apocalypse/religion), The Fireman by Joe Hill (authentic characters, apocalypse, "band of survivors") Bird Box by Josh Malerman (apocalypse, "found family", "band of survivors, POV from a female perspective) Extasia by Claire Legrand (post-apocalyptic, religious orders, young female protagonist, YA)
Page Count: 384 pages
Publisher: Nightfire
Format: I read the Kindle Unlimited edition & I bought the audiobook from Libro FM--did both. Quick note on the audiobook: The narrator is not my favorite-a very sultry, breathy voice and speaking style/flow that took some getting used to-not really my cup of tea
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Maeve Fly
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978125085...
Release Date: October 15th, 2025
General Genre: Apocalypse, Horror
Sub-Genre/Themes: Coming-of-Age, teen girl, Catholicism, pandemic/disease, family, sexuality, romance, sheltered upbringing, siblings, family, "found family", homophobia, religious oppression, survival, "band of survivors", death/grief/loss CW: The dog dies in this
Writing Style: Thought-provoking, compelling, authentic (flawed) characters, suspenseful
What You Need to Know: "A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust. Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin" --NoveList
My Reading Experience: I went into this book with extremely high expectations. I have heard nothing but good things. (Maybe one or two strongly worded negative reviews but this did not sway me. *and this is just a gentle reminder that just because a reader you admire or respect didn't enjoy a book, doesn't mean you shouldn't read it for yourself. I would have missed out on this amazing experience had I listened to one reviewer who is pretty persuasive)
American Rapture is one of those books that is immediately engaging. I invested in the main character immediately. I love apocalyptic fiction that starts at the beginning when everything is sliding off the rails into chaos. I also enjoyed that the MC is young and lived a sheltered life within the confines of a strict Catholic family and private school. This made her survival in this pandemic setting so unique and interesting--to have her worldview
I also enjoyed her "mission" and purpose for going out into the world--the pandemic becomes a catalyst for her awakening but it also served as her escape so she could find her brother. This served the story well in so many ways.
The found family/band of survivors element was organic and exciting. The way people joined together and became fast friends--companions--moved the story along and kept things interesting/dynamic. I loved the way different people brought out new characteristics of Sophie's personality as she discovered new things about herself.
There was only one part I thought was strange--things go off into a more fever-dream world toward the latter part of the story. It was a weird separation from reality and I just sort of went along with it and allowed space for the change so it didn't hinder my enjoyment *too* much but it definitely interrupted the flow I was used to at that point.
For the most part, I am the exact audience for a book like this. It's everything I show up for in horror.
Final Recommendation: This book is perfect for fans of horror with heart, coming-of-age horror fiction, apocalypse "band of survivors" and "found family stories, readers who are interested in exploring themes of religious trauma and deconstructing from a fundamentalist conservative religious upbringing/worldview with staunch conservative, harmful doctrines. Please be warned of the tragic loss of a faithful canine companion. I was warned and chose to skip it (around the 320 mark). There's an author's note addressing the choice at the end if you decide to be brave
Comps: The Unworthy (apocalypse/religion), The Fireman by Joe Hill (authentic characters, apocalypse, "band of survivors") Bird Box by Josh Malerman (apocalypse, "found family", "band of survivors, POV from a female perspective) Extasia by Claire Legrand (post-apocalyptic, religious orders, young female protagonist, YA)
October 25, 2024
4.0 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/y9h_dc_MtCo
After loving Maeve Fly by the same author, I was eager to read a full length novel by the same author. Thankfully this did not disappoint.
I can be hit or miss with post apocalyptic so I was unsure how'd I'd get along with this plot. The lust plague sounded silly, but it managed to actually feel serious.
I personally really enjoyed the religious angle, or rather the criticism of the purity culture that surrounds religion. The author certainly has a strong point of view. I happened to generally shared those views so I didn't mind the opinions.
The character work was strong and I enjoyed the wider worldbuilding. I personally would have preferred a tighter narrative like Maeve Fly, but it was still an enjoyable story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review https://youtu.be/y9h_dc_MtCo
After loving Maeve Fly by the same author, I was eager to read a full length novel by the same author. Thankfully this did not disappoint.
I can be hit or miss with post apocalyptic so I was unsure how'd I'd get along with this plot. The lust plague sounded silly, but it managed to actually feel serious.
I personally really enjoyed the religious angle, or rather the criticism of the purity culture that surrounds religion. The author certainly has a strong point of view. I happened to generally shared those views so I didn't mind the opinions.
The character work was strong and I enjoyed the wider worldbuilding. I personally would have preferred a tighter narrative like Maeve Fly, but it was still an enjoyable story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 26, 2024
It pains me to say this, but I DNF'd this novel at about 93% because I just couldn't anymore. I thoroughly enjoyed this author's debut, Maeve Fly, and was very much looking forward to reading this follow-up about a pandemic, especially after I saw how BEAUTIFUL the cover for it was! Unfortunately I came across a couple big issues that I just couldn't overcome in order to enjoy this read. I really wish I had known about the insanely triggering and excruciatingly graphically descriptive animal death that awaited me towards the end of this prior to investing this much time into a novel, but nonetheless after forcing myself to continue reading what felt like it was a never-ending story this is what I was rewarded with?!
Despite the plot revolving around a pandemic caused by sexual activity, dubbed SYLVIA, this novel felt like it was about religion and politics, and the main protagonist is a sheltered 16-year-old catholic schoolgirl who seemed to be working with a deficit in brain cells as she was continuously unable to think for herself, and while I empathized with her initially she eventually became insanely annoying after about 360 pages of the same foolishness over and over. Why did such an idiotic character survive when those better and smarter dropped like flies around her? It made no sense, but I told myself this was fiction after all! Despite the creative structure, the writing was also somewhat choppy and it eventually began to feel like a bunch of scenes patched together with little direction, but one of the overwhelming themes throughout this story was that Christians can be/mostly are incredibly judgmental and evil and the author undoubtedly has issues with them, which is fine, to each their own. This element did add some irony and humor to the storyline, at least!
When the 'big reveal' came after the before mentioned animal death I actually rolled my eyes and laughed out loud because it was so ridiculous and unbelievable, but again we were dealing with a character that was obviously less than smart, so I shook my head and decided to just quit before it got even worse.
Why did this author write a second novel with such a weak, simple-minded protagonist after a debut about an independent and clever one at its' center? The two novels couldn't be more different in that aspect! Anyway, suffice to say this novel disappointed and had me feeling quite a bit by the time I put it down! I don't recommend this for anyone that has a heart for animals and can easily become annoyed by stupidity. I'm sure I'm in the minority because the average rating is over 4 stars, which I simply just don't understand, but I digress - this one is probably on me, and I was in the wrong headspace to read it! I still believe this is a talented author, and I will give her next release a chance before making a final decision!
Despite the plot revolving around a pandemic caused by sexual activity, dubbed SYLVIA, this novel felt like it was about religion and politics, and the main protagonist is a sheltered 16-year-old catholic schoolgirl who seemed to be working with a deficit in brain cells as she was continuously unable to think for herself, and while I empathized with her initially she eventually became insanely annoying after about 360 pages of the same foolishness over and over. Why did such an idiotic character survive when those better and smarter dropped like flies around her? It made no sense, but I told myself this was fiction after all! Despite the creative structure, the writing was also somewhat choppy and it eventually began to feel like a bunch of scenes patched together with little direction, but one of the overwhelming themes throughout this story was that Christians can be/mostly are incredibly judgmental and evil and the author undoubtedly has issues with them, which is fine, to each their own. This element did add some irony and humor to the storyline, at least!
When the 'big reveal' came after the before mentioned animal death I actually rolled my eyes and laughed out loud because it was so ridiculous and unbelievable, but again we were dealing with a character that was obviously less than smart, so I shook my head and decided to just quit before it got even worse.
Why did this author write a second novel with such a weak, simple-minded protagonist after a debut about an independent and clever one at its' center? The two novels couldn't be more different in that aspect! Anyway, suffice to say this novel disappointed and had me feeling quite a bit by the time I put it down! I don't recommend this for anyone that has a heart for animals and can easily become annoyed by stupidity. I'm sure I'm in the minority because the average rating is over 4 stars, which I simply just don't understand, but I digress - this one is probably on me, and I was in the wrong headspace to read it! I still believe this is a talented author, and I will give her next release a chance before making a final decision!
August 10, 2024
I'm not crying. You're crying!
March 7, 2025
Just when I think I’ve read it all, here comes the sex-crazed zombies! But seriously, very emotional book that is a great reminder of what is truly important in our lives! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
October 1, 2024
Religious trauma and horror- is anyone shocked I was interested??? I will say you should know going in that there is a lot of sexual assault in this book (and a pretty horrific animal death). But the main theme is religion and sexuality, so I think it makes sense and is pretty smart. I did appreciate that while the instances of assault or attempted assault are many and awful, the descriptions of what's happening aren't overly graphic. Especially compared to the quite graphic descriptions of other things that you would expect to see in a horror novel.
The main character is Sophie, a Catholic teen girl who has led an extremely sheltered life and lacks access to a lot of information. Meanwhile, a deadly virus is sweeping the nation and it causes people to be uncontrollably sexual in really disturbing ways. And then there are your not-infected creeps who also perpetrate assault. What I think I really smart about this is it literalizes this conservative religious teaching that men "can't control themselves" and places the responsibility for sexual assault on women. In this case, while women can be infected too, only men get red hands as a late symptom. And the infected quite literally cannot control themselves.
This also gets at the danger of lack of education when it comes to sex. Whether because of lack of knowledge or discomfort, Sophie thinks of each penis she sees or encounters as a "thing". Sexuality for her is this blend of guilt, shame, desire, and traumatic responses, which is pretty common for people with religious trauma who grew up in purity culture. Even in a consensual situation, these responses are triggered in what is clearly PTSD. Again, this is a real thing even if it's not coming from such unhinged situations. But I think the fact that the horror is so over the top allows for a bit more distance and comfort with addressing really difficult subject matter. Like incest, religious abuse, and more. The main character may be a teenager, but this is definitely not YA.
I could say a lot more, but I think this is an incredible book, especially if you grew up religious and are deconstructing that. Just be aware that the subject matter is intense. The audio narration is really good too! I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
The main character is Sophie, a Catholic teen girl who has led an extremely sheltered life and lacks access to a lot of information. Meanwhile, a deadly virus is sweeping the nation and it causes people to be uncontrollably sexual in really disturbing ways. And then there are your not-infected creeps who also perpetrate assault. What I think I really smart about this is it literalizes this conservative religious teaching that men "can't control themselves" and places the responsibility for sexual assault on women. In this case, while women can be infected too, only men get red hands as a late symptom. And the infected quite literally cannot control themselves.
This also gets at the danger of lack of education when it comes to sex. Whether because of lack of knowledge or discomfort, Sophie thinks of each penis she sees or encounters as a "thing". Sexuality for her is this blend of guilt, shame, desire, and traumatic responses, which is pretty common for people with religious trauma who grew up in purity culture. Even in a consensual situation, these responses are triggered in what is clearly PTSD. Again, this is a real thing even if it's not coming from such unhinged situations. But I think the fact that the horror is so over the top allows for a bit more distance and comfort with addressing really difficult subject matter. Like incest, religious abuse, and more. The main character may be a teenager, but this is definitely not YA.
I could say a lot more, but I think this is an incredible book, especially if you grew up religious and are deconstructing that. Just be aware that the subject matter is intense. The audio narration is really good too! I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
October 21, 2024
Conflicted, but overall enjoyed the journey! FRTC
August 1, 2025
Let's keep this short. I'll just give you a list of what made this a low rating for ME.
1. FMC doesn't realize she's hot.
2. All MMC's want her.
3. SHE'S SIXTEEN!!!
4. One of the aforementioned MMC's is TWENTY FOUR!!!
5. The author didn't put any trigger warnings. And I feel you should know, before picking this up, that there is a lengthy on-page scene of a dog's death.
6. Somehow nothing ever happens to the FMC. Like, yeah, everybody else is cannon fodder. But you know immediately who will and won't survive.
7. The way solutions to problems would pop up like a gopher out of a hole at any given moment.
8. Being aro ace, I couldn't understand this main character at all. Which is not a fault of the book.
9. The coooonstant talk of sex really ick-ed me out. Again, just not for me specifically.
10. The leaps in logic, especially toward the end, were frustrating. I'll put a spoiler warning for the specific one I had a grievance with...
1. FMC doesn't realize she's hot.
2. All MMC's want her.
3. SHE'S SIXTEEN!!!
4. One of the aforementioned MMC's is TWENTY FOUR!!!
5. The author didn't put any trigger warnings. And I feel you should know, before picking this up, that there is a lengthy on-page scene of a dog's death.
6. Somehow nothing ever happens to the FMC. Like, yeah, everybody else is cannon fodder. But you know immediately who will and won't survive.
7. The way solutions to problems would pop up like a gopher out of a hole at any given moment.
8. Being aro ace, I couldn't understand this main character at all. Which is not a fault of the book.
9. The coooonstant talk of sex really ick-ed me out. Again, just not for me specifically.
10. The leaps in logic, especially toward the end, were frustrating. I'll put a spoiler warning for the specific one I had a grievance with...
October 16, 2024
This novel isn’t afraid to punch you in the gut, again and again. Leede blew past all expectations in this fresh take on a popular survival-horror genre. The characters are incredibly compelling, especially, but not only, the main character. They all feel painfully real, heroes and villains alike, none serving as mere archetypes or strawmen but as complicated real people that live in the world as it is, now. The characters are diverse and messy, none defined by their differences but those differences being a fundamental part of who and how they are.
The story is really smart, creating a virus that exploits the one thing most terrifying to extremist religious ideologies: sexuality (and, by extension, self-empowerment). That serves as the basis for an engaging mash-up of religious horror and survivor horror, as our characters try to survive in an apocalyptic hellscape filled with deadly “feral lust” zombies. The genre fusion works so well, and we see the grace and power of found family as characters are willing to put everything on the line for those they care about. The story manages to balance outrage and empathy really well, all focused through the prism of a young woman who has been taught for her whole life that she is what is wrong with the world.
This story isn’t labeled YA, but it follows the contemporary trend of sophisticated YA horror fiction, focusing on a teenage protagonist learning how they exist in the world, discovering themselves and going on a backbreaking journey to break down their inner guard walls, while not shying away from visceral gore and violence. This is a story about trauma and pain and survival, a story about love and the power of friendship in the face of hopelessness. How do we combat the zombies of guilt and shame, the monsters of domination and control and futility and “we-know-what’s-best-for-you”?
For the most part the pacing is good. This world is bleak and filled with pain and abject misery, and Leede doesn’t shy away from that but does a good job of breaking it up with little bright spots. A chance for a breath, a chance to maybe wipe some of the sweat off your brow before again picking up the fight. Action-packed scenes filled with violence and death are sprinkled across the pages, intermingled with momentary sanctuary. There is a little lag around the 50% mark, it feels like it spins its wheels a little, but not enough to pull me away from the story. Part of that is because the tone of the writing complements the story so well. It has a forlorn, defeated quality for most of, which turns into a frenzy of confusion and grief, a journey frustration and hopelessness. The story ius written in a very intimate and painful first person, and the emotion of the writing lines up with the character’s emotional arc and the story’s narrative progression well. Leede’s previous novel, Maeve Fly, has a somewhat twee tone, a sense of fabrication or dissimulation, and that made perfect sense for that story considering it revolved around themes of masking and performance, and fabricating a version of reality to manipulate others’ emotional states. The tone here is wildly different but equally perfect for this particular story. Even at the points where the pacing lags a little it still feels authentic to the character, to their exhaustion and desperation.
Obviously the religion portrayed is an extremist flavor, and there is at least one really wonderful scene I can think of where Leede goes out of her way to show that while this may be a loud voice it isn’t speaking all Christian belief systems. That said, some of the criticism against this flavor of religion, the judgment toward the religious by the non-religious, feel pretty heavy-handed, and rather simplistic. There are incredibly nuanced critiques that exist pointing at the same targets, and it might feel in the back half of this story that Leede is grabbing the most simplistic rebuttals. However, these rebuttals are mostly from the voices of other young people. Depending on your upbringing and experiences they may feel simple, but if know anyone who has undergone deconstruction from an evangelical or extremist religious ideology then you will know even these simple arguments can be earth-shattering for believers. For those not peripheral to people with these beliefs it might be easy to distrust the level of the main character’s ignorance or the radically blasphemous nature these heavy-handed and simplistic arguments make hold for her, but it all rang unfortunately true. So, while some of the vocal critiques here felt a little amateur and simplistic, making me roll my eyes a little, they don’t feel entirely out of place given the context.
Leede wasn’t afraid to bring this story to its logical conclusion, which made for a breathtaking and exciting journey. It had relatable, fully realized characters going on an incredibly difficult and important inner journey, one mirrored by the apocalyptic world they were facing as they fought to define and hold onto love and meaning in their own terms. It is painful and exhilarating, burning with compassion fueled by suppressed rage. It somehow wanders into a very well-worn horror subgenre and manages to leave its own indelible mark there, finding not only something new but also the voice to share it.
The story is really smart, creating a virus that exploits the one thing most terrifying to extremist religious ideologies: sexuality (and, by extension, self-empowerment). That serves as the basis for an engaging mash-up of religious horror and survivor horror, as our characters try to survive in an apocalyptic hellscape filled with deadly “feral lust” zombies. The genre fusion works so well, and we see the grace and power of found family as characters are willing to put everything on the line for those they care about. The story manages to balance outrage and empathy really well, all focused through the prism of a young woman who has been taught for her whole life that she is what is wrong with the world.
This story isn’t labeled YA, but it follows the contemporary trend of sophisticated YA horror fiction, focusing on a teenage protagonist learning how they exist in the world, discovering themselves and going on a backbreaking journey to break down their inner guard walls, while not shying away from visceral gore and violence. This is a story about trauma and pain and survival, a story about love and the power of friendship in the face of hopelessness. How do we combat the zombies of guilt and shame, the monsters of domination and control and futility and “we-know-what’s-best-for-you”?
For the most part the pacing is good. This world is bleak and filled with pain and abject misery, and Leede doesn’t shy away from that but does a good job of breaking it up with little bright spots. A chance for a breath, a chance to maybe wipe some of the sweat off your brow before again picking up the fight. Action-packed scenes filled with violence and death are sprinkled across the pages, intermingled with momentary sanctuary. There is a little lag around the 50% mark, it feels like it spins its wheels a little, but not enough to pull me away from the story. Part of that is because the tone of the writing complements the story so well. It has a forlorn, defeated quality for most of, which turns into a frenzy of confusion and grief, a journey frustration and hopelessness. The story ius written in a very intimate and painful first person, and the emotion of the writing lines up with the character’s emotional arc and the story’s narrative progression well. Leede’s previous novel, Maeve Fly, has a somewhat twee tone, a sense of fabrication or dissimulation, and that made perfect sense for that story considering it revolved around themes of masking and performance, and fabricating a version of reality to manipulate others’ emotional states. The tone here is wildly different but equally perfect for this particular story. Even at the points where the pacing lags a little it still feels authentic to the character, to their exhaustion and desperation.
Obviously the religion portrayed is an extremist flavor, and there is at least one really wonderful scene I can think of where Leede goes out of her way to show that while this may be a loud voice it isn’t speaking all Christian belief systems. That said, some of the criticism against this flavor of religion, the judgment toward the religious by the non-religious, feel pretty heavy-handed, and rather simplistic. There are incredibly nuanced critiques that exist pointing at the same targets, and it might feel in the back half of this story that Leede is grabbing the most simplistic rebuttals. However, these rebuttals are mostly from the voices of other young people. Depending on your upbringing and experiences they may feel simple, but if know anyone who has undergone deconstruction from an evangelical or extremist religious ideology then you will know even these simple arguments can be earth-shattering for believers. For those not peripheral to people with these beliefs it might be easy to distrust the level of the main character’s ignorance or the radically blasphemous nature these heavy-handed and simplistic arguments make hold for her, but it all rang unfortunately true. So, while some of the vocal critiques here felt a little amateur and simplistic, making me roll my eyes a little, they don’t feel entirely out of place given the context.
Leede wasn’t afraid to bring this story to its logical conclusion, which made for a breathtaking and exciting journey. It had relatable, fully realized characters going on an incredibly difficult and important inner journey, one mirrored by the apocalyptic world they were facing as they fought to define and hold onto love and meaning in their own terms. It is painful and exhilarating, burning with compassion fueled by suppressed rage. It somehow wanders into a very well-worn horror subgenre and manages to leave its own indelible mark there, finding not only something new but also the voice to share it.
October 30, 2024
Everyone loved this book - guess I'm the freak who didn't
[TW/CW: religious guilt, anxiety, mental abuse, sexual assault, body shaming, smoking, misogyny, sexism, drinking, toxic family relationships, homophobia, animal death (graphic) ]
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust. Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin.
Release Date: October 15th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Cover is gorgeous
2. Writing was okay
What I Didn't Like:
1. So so so many commas
2. Boring
3. Too many convenient things happening
4. Felt like the longest book
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
On a shopping trip with Sophie's mom we get to learn why she's so stern in their religious background. It seems that her mom went to live with other religious people while she was going to college and let the way she dress change two more secular, so one day the man that she was living with sexually assaulted her. Rather than go to the police she took this as a learning lesson that she was the one to blame because of how she had dressed that it gave this man lust toward her. And how lucky she was that her husband still accepted her despite her not being a virgin. Religion is such a wild drug. It can turn someone being sexually assaulted into making them feel like they're the ones to blame. I remember watching a show that was showcasing an art exhibit in New York where women who had been sexually assaulted donated the clothes they were wearing at the time of the assault and 9 out of the 10 clothes were basic sweatpants and loose-fitting outfits. I encourage you to check it out. It's called “What Were You Wearing?”
Noah shows Sophie a magazine and their mother catches them. I wonder if Noah is gay. [I was right]
A tornado now??? *rolls eyes*
Geez does Sophie just want everyone? She's obsessed with Maro and then Ben and now Helen.
I feel like this book lacks focus. I mean what are we doing here???
Final Thoughts:
Dnfed this at page 277. I know I was so close to the ending and I could have got to the end of the book, but have you ever read a book where you just don't care what happens at the end? That is how this book made me feel. I started caring and towards the middle I cared less so by the end I didn't care at all. I really feel like I didn't miss out on anything not knowing what was going to happen.
Honestly this book tries too hard to be something complex and out there, but ends up just being boring.
This book left me feeling like it's a book about a girl that is so horny she wants to have sex with anyone that gives her attention. It was hard to tell the difference between the virus and her being so sexually obsessed. Times when I was reading it and I would think that she had gotten the virus but no. I understand being sexually repressed by her parents but I don't know if in the situation you would instantly be this hooked on every single person you talk to. You've lost your parents granted you were not close to them, but still your parents and you're on this desperate search to find your brother whom you don't know is dead or alive, but she stops to have these moments that she wants to be romantic and I just don't know how realistic that is to human nature.
I also found it so hard to believe that she didn't hear about ANYTHING that was happening in the world. She went to school and yes, it was a Christian school, but even teens would talk about these things. All these things are happening and there's no lockdowns she's able to still go to the library and school is just as normal, but this highly contagious viruses going around and the world is still functioning as normal.
This book is about two things;
• Her obsession with every human
• Must find Noah, Noah, Noah, Noah
Skip this and read the graphic novel Black Hole.
IG | Blog
October 6, 2024
American Rapture
by CJ Leede
Horror Science Fiction Religion
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 15, 2024
Tor Nightfire
Ages: 16+
Sophie, a girl days away from turning seventeen, is being raised in a strict Catholic household after her parents find a magazine in her twin brother's room. They send him away but keep Sophie sheltered, only allowing her to read, see, and interact with things they see fit, enlisting other adults: nuns, teachers, and neighbors, to help them keep their daughter free of sin.
But they have sheltered her so extremely that she does not know the danger lurking in the virus that is spreading because they tell her she is safe. She has no idea what the real world is like, or even what the opposite sex looks like under their clothes, so when things start to sneak around the barrier her parents think they have made, Sophie doesn't understand but believes what she is seeing and hearing are sins and lies.
The virus starts like the flu but ends with the infected attempting to spread the virus through sex, (rabies-like) leaving Sophie oblivious to the danger she is in, leaving her to believe that Jesus and God will save her only if she would stop thinking sinful thoughts.
With her parents, and town infected, she runs, searching for her twin brother.
When I requested this book, I imagined hell on Earth' demons, monsters, and the Anti-Christ, instead, I got a virus and people being people, the religious being the biggest monsters, plus pages upon pages of the internal confused religious thoughts of a sixteen-year-old who seemed to have the mindset of a six-year-old or was severely mentally disabled.
Yeah, I get the religious crazy still do that to their kids, it's brainwashing renamed as religion so those who want power, (the church and politicians) can preach their beliefs for their own gain. I have nothing against having faith in something 'bigger', but I have everything against those who force people to become sheep and if they don't, they die. A lot of religious pros and cons were brought up in this book, and yeah... The biggest is how violent and controlling religion is, and if you're not a part of their 'flock' you are evil.
I was hoping for a serious, but enjoyable horror story but this failed. There was a lot, A LOT of religious lectures, and beliefs, and those took the story over. But worse, it was in first person so Sophie kept rambling on repeat, and it got to the point to where I started skimming when she started thinking. But the virus, even though a little far-fetched, (the infected are not going to have the intelligence to remove clothing if they can't recognize their own reflection) I get the idea. This country has no morals, it is all about sex/beauty/vanity, but having no dignity/self-respect. (Just look at the 'spice' in books craze...)
But I did find the other characters more interesting than Sophie. They had personalities and I could relate to them, Sophie I did not like because of her weakness. (Yes, religion, IMO, CAN be a weakness.) Sure, she started to grow, opening her mind to the truth of the world, but that wasn't until close to the end, and it took a major trauma to wake her up.
The story was good, the side characters great, but the MC was irritating. Instead of droning on about the real horrors of religion, and first POV, writing it in third-person, with multiple characters, I feel, could have left room for more of the story.
Not overly graphic but lot of adult content so not suitable for readers under sixteen.
2 Stars
by CJ Leede
Horror Science Fiction Religion
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 15, 2024
Tor Nightfire
Ages: 16+
Sophie, a girl days away from turning seventeen, is being raised in a strict Catholic household after her parents find a magazine in her twin brother's room. They send him away but keep Sophie sheltered, only allowing her to read, see, and interact with things they see fit, enlisting other adults: nuns, teachers, and neighbors, to help them keep their daughter free of sin.
But they have sheltered her so extremely that she does not know the danger lurking in the virus that is spreading because they tell her she is safe. She has no idea what the real world is like, or even what the opposite sex looks like under their clothes, so when things start to sneak around the barrier her parents think they have made, Sophie doesn't understand but believes what she is seeing and hearing are sins and lies.
The virus starts like the flu but ends with the infected attempting to spread the virus through sex, (rabies-like) leaving Sophie oblivious to the danger she is in, leaving her to believe that Jesus and God will save her only if she would stop thinking sinful thoughts.
With her parents, and town infected, she runs, searching for her twin brother.
When I requested this book, I imagined hell on Earth' demons, monsters, and the Anti-Christ, instead, I got a virus and people being people, the religious being the biggest monsters, plus pages upon pages of the internal confused religious thoughts of a sixteen-year-old who seemed to have the mindset of a six-year-old or was severely mentally disabled.
Yeah, I get the religious crazy still do that to their kids, it's brainwashing renamed as religion so those who want power, (the church and politicians) can preach their beliefs for their own gain. I have nothing against having faith in something 'bigger', but I have everything against those who force people to become sheep and if they don't, they die. A lot of religious pros and cons were brought up in this book, and yeah... The biggest is how violent and controlling religion is, and if you're not a part of their 'flock' you are evil.
I was hoping for a serious, but enjoyable horror story but this failed. There was a lot, A LOT of religious lectures, and beliefs, and those took the story over. But worse, it was in first person so Sophie kept rambling on repeat, and it got to the point to where I started skimming when she started thinking. But the virus, even though a little far-fetched, (the infected are not going to have the intelligence to remove clothing if they can't recognize their own reflection) I get the idea. This country has no morals, it is all about sex/beauty/vanity, but having no dignity/self-respect. (Just look at the 'spice' in books craze...)
But I did find the other characters more interesting than Sophie. They had personalities and I could relate to them, Sophie I did not like because of her weakness. (Yes, religion, IMO, CAN be a weakness.) Sure, she started to grow, opening her mind to the truth of the world, but that wasn't until close to the end, and it took a major trauma to wake her up.
The story was good, the side characters great, but the MC was irritating. Instead of droning on about the real horrors of religion, and first POV, writing it in third-person, with multiple characters, I feel, could have left room for more of the story.
Not overly graphic but lot of adult content so not suitable for readers under sixteen.
2 Stars
October 19, 2024
(2024) happy belated pub day to this stunner, which i read as an ARC back in may and have not stopped thinking about since. i love its big damn heart, its grit, its grief, i love the friendship and the queerness and the gore and the terror and that fucking carousel scene. and the LIBRARY BOOKS. my god. that's precisely how you get me. my pre-order arrived on wednesday & less than 24 hours later i'd already lent it to a friend. that's how this one's gonna be, folks. you're gonna want to give it to all your friends. ty, cj, for another incredible read
(pre-read) || saw the moodboard on insta and if it's even a little bit accurate i'm going to be incapable of being normal about this book
(pre-read) || saw the moodboard on insta and if it's even a little bit accurate i'm going to be incapable of being normal about this book
May 31, 2024
A genre blending horror with a lot of bloody heart, mixing coming of age, final girl, found family, and apocalyptic themes Leede has crafted a ferocious tale examining religion, it's hypocrisy and autonomy, with echoes of Carrie this handles religious and generational trauma with unflinching finesse, the conflicting and complex emotions of guilt, shame and the want for something more are skillfully handled, seeing everything through the eyes of a teenage girl as she grapples with good and evil and the shades of grey inbetween was heartbreaking, a truly poignant and important read, whats phenomenal about this book is much like our protagonist, the readers own beliefs are challenged, make no mistake this is a violent and brutal read (plenty of triggers so check them before reading) five big sobbing stars 😭
May 16, 2024
"We are all just dry tinder. And eventually we will all burn."
Forgive me, Father. I've been a bad girl...
Imagine living your entire life in the dark. No cell phone, no tv, and no internet. Your parents only allow you to read certain books meant for younger kids and even thinking about the opposite sex will earn you a paddling. Now, what happens when a pandemic sweeps the nation and you're the last one to know anything about it? How would you handle this? All I know is that Sophie is in for one hell of a wild ride!
This book contains a lot of gore, violence, brutality of life, and a lot of heart. I didn't think that I would be sitting in my house with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face while reading this but here we are. Prepare yourselves for the gut punch that this book is. It's a powerful one, so you better come prepared.
CJ knows how to capture an audience. Her work is incredible and you'll become obsessed very early on. With her last book, she took the book world by storm and she is about to do it again with a completely different novel but still with a badass main character who you'll instantly fall in love with.
American Rapture was a phenomenal read by one of the new masters of horror. I loved every page and I can't wait for the rest of the world to grovel at the feet of CJ along with me.
Forgive me, Father. I've been a bad girl...
Imagine living your entire life in the dark. No cell phone, no tv, and no internet. Your parents only allow you to read certain books meant for younger kids and even thinking about the opposite sex will earn you a paddling. Now, what happens when a pandemic sweeps the nation and you're the last one to know anything about it? How would you handle this? All I know is that Sophie is in for one hell of a wild ride!
This book contains a lot of gore, violence, brutality of life, and a lot of heart. I didn't think that I would be sitting in my house with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face while reading this but here we are. Prepare yourselves for the gut punch that this book is. It's a powerful one, so you better come prepared.
CJ knows how to capture an audience. Her work is incredible and you'll become obsessed very early on. With her last book, she took the book world by storm and she is about to do it again with a completely different novel but still with a badass main character who you'll instantly fall in love with.
American Rapture was a phenomenal read by one of the new masters of horror. I loved every page and I can't wait for the rest of the world to grovel at the feet of CJ along with me.
June 16, 2024
Propulsive. Intoxicating. Bloody.
I am adrenaline. I am fire. I am a girl desperate to stay alive.
The flu is making its way through America but this isn’t your average flu. Sophie, a sheltered and well-behaved Catholic girl, is just trying to make it through the awkwardness of her teenage years; feeling ashamed and embarrassed when faced with the secular world. But when this “flu”—causing manic and lustful behavior in the infected—makes its way to the midwest, Sophie will have to do more than just face the secular world… She’s going to have to fight it, causing her to question everything she believes.
I love books with religious themes but they make me shake with rage because of their insanity and how close to reality it is sometimes. Very dystopian/apocalyptic which isn’t usually my cup of tea but alas, I loved it. Leede’s storytelling is distinct and refreshing; it’s hard not to gobble up her stories even if they tend to be slightly repulsing at times.
Compelling reflections on faith, sexuality, identity, mortality, and the freedom of choice.
A dark but beautiful novel.
Thank you Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Out 10/15/2024!
I am adrenaline. I am fire. I am a girl desperate to stay alive.
The flu is making its way through America but this isn’t your average flu. Sophie, a sheltered and well-behaved Catholic girl, is just trying to make it through the awkwardness of her teenage years; feeling ashamed and embarrassed when faced with the secular world. But when this “flu”—causing manic and lustful behavior in the infected—makes its way to the midwest, Sophie will have to do more than just face the secular world… She’s going to have to fight it, causing her to question everything she believes.
I love books with religious themes but they make me shake with rage because of their insanity and how close to reality it is sometimes. Very dystopian/apocalyptic which isn’t usually my cup of tea but alas, I loved it. Leede’s storytelling is distinct and refreshing; it’s hard not to gobble up her stories even if they tend to be slightly repulsing at times.
Compelling reflections on faith, sexuality, identity, mortality, and the freedom of choice.
A dark but beautiful novel.
Thank you Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Out 10/15/2024!
June 2, 2024
I can't with the rape-zombies.
November 6, 2024
Jesus :)
(Read the book and I think you'll agree this is the single most brilliant review ever)
(Read the book and I think you'll agree this is the single most brilliant review ever)
December 24, 2025
“I think it’s our job to find hope wherever we can. Especially when life is terrible and dark. It’s our job to find the beauty and the light.”
4.5 ⭐️ s
What a messed up virus 🦠
I enjoyed this book, reminded me of my childhood growing up in a very strict, religious household. There are some heart wrenching moments in the latter part of this book.
4.5 ⭐️ s
What a messed up virus 🦠
I enjoyed this book, reminded me of my childhood growing up in a very strict, religious household. There are some heart wrenching moments in the latter part of this book.
December 13, 2024
American Rapture is a trip through a lust apocalypse told through the eyes of a very sheltered, catholic teen named Sophie. As the virus spreads, she escapes her oppressive life and hits the road to find her twin brother with a ragtag group of survivors and a beautiful, protective dog.
I enjoyed this book and yet I didn't. It started out strong as we learn all about Sophie's terrible life with her religious extremist parents and it was all very timely. And I thought the trapped on the highway scene was chilling. I've probably read/watched far too much horror but whenever there is wall to wall stopped traffic on the highway and I'm alone in my car my mind envisions terrible things. This book added a few more. But then the story started to meander for me as she and a band of survivors run around trying to figure out what exactly is happening and where to go from here.
Sophie being young and free and finally discovering the world starts questioning the religious views forced upon her by her parents and their insulated community. Especially the views around purity and its value. That was great. What wasn't so great was that she develops a crush on nearly everyone in her little group and they're all beautiful because of course they are and she's the most beautiful of them all but doesn't have a clue. I don't know, maybe I'm just past this very young, naive feeling POV but I still have a little bit of memory left, and I don't remember wanting to kiss everyone who was pretty and nice to me when I was a teen. And the cop is 8 years her senior. His attention came off as a little creepy to me. I realize these are trying times here in this rape zombie apocalypse, but it bugged me nonetheless.
The other thing that disappointed me was the lack of characterization for all of the secondary characters. This felt like a very long book but the time wasn't taken to flesh them out, making it hard for me to care about them when, well, when things inevitably happen. The dog was fleshed out more than most of the people. These books are always depressing and so sad but I didn't feel much for these people. The dog is another story entirely.
I realize this review sounds more like a 2 than a 3 but really if falls somewhere between. I'll give it a 2.75 because parts of it were very well done and it has some important things to say about religion and the people who wield it as a weapon.
I enjoyed this book and yet I didn't. It started out strong as we learn all about Sophie's terrible life with her religious extremist parents and it was all very timely. And I thought the trapped on the highway scene was chilling. I've probably read/watched far too much horror but whenever there is wall to wall stopped traffic on the highway and I'm alone in my car my mind envisions terrible things. This book added a few more. But then the story started to meander for me as she and a band of survivors run around trying to figure out what exactly is happening and where to go from here.
Sophie being young and free and finally discovering the world starts questioning the religious views forced upon her by her parents and their insulated community. Especially the views around purity and its value. That was great. What wasn't so great was that she develops a crush on nearly everyone in her little group and they're all beautiful because of course they are and she's the most beautiful of them all but doesn't have a clue. I don't know, maybe I'm just past this very young, naive feeling POV but I still have a little bit of memory left, and I don't remember wanting to kiss everyone who was pretty and nice to me when I was a teen. And the cop is 8 years her senior. His attention came off as a little creepy to me. I realize these are trying times here in this rape zombie apocalypse, but it bugged me nonetheless.
The other thing that disappointed me was the lack of characterization for all of the secondary characters. This felt like a very long book but the time wasn't taken to flesh them out, making it hard for me to care about them when, well, when things inevitably happen. The dog was fleshed out more than most of the people. These books are always depressing and so sad but I didn't feel much for these people. The dog is another story entirely.
I realize this review sounds more like a 2 than a 3 but really if falls somewhere between. I'll give it a 2.75 because parts of it were very well done and it has some important things to say about religion and the people who wield it as a weapon.
February 20, 2025
Having grown up in a Catholic community and now living a more secular life, I found myself resonating with Sophie’s struggles and the questions she deals with. The story covers themes of self-discovery, guilt, grief, and loss with the chaos of a zombie apocalypse. So much of this was horrific and terrifying but somehow hopeful at the same time. Definitely a wild ride
October 15, 2024
I was ready for a new novel by C.J. Leede pretty much the instant I finished Maeve Fly. But American Rapture is not at all the book I expected. Maeve devolved into a blood-soaked, absurdist gore-fest, and while Rapture has its moments of violence, it’s much more thoughtful and affecting than Leede’s debut.
The narrator is Sophie, a 16-year-old girl raised in an extremely religious household. Sheltered and naïve to the ways of the secular world, Sophie is wholly unprepared when a virus sweeps the U.S.: a virus that turns the infected into raging, lustful, rapey monsters. Sophie sets out into this violent, dangerous landscape to search for her brother, Noah, finding unexpected camaraderie and fellowship along the way.
American Rapture is perfectly-paced, taking its time to introduce Sophie and her circumstances before blowing those circumstances up and turning into a relentless thrill ride through post-apocalyptic Wisconsin. It’s a violent, unflinching story, but Leede is doing so much beneath the surface. She’s telling the story of one girl’s sexual awakening into a broken world, exploring religious trauma, purity culture, shame, sexual identity, found family, and redemption. Sophie is such an authentic character: a good Catholic girl who’s been taught her whole life that her virginity is her greatest gift to give, who is acknowledging her sexual feelings for the first time and is confused, aroused, and ashamed of those feelings all at once. And she’s feeling All The Feelings during an actual apocalypse, which only adds to her internal conflict and guilt as her entire worldview is challenged. It’s brilliant, the way Leede juxtaposes Sophie’s experiences of desire and shame, of innocence and violence.
American Rapture is not for the faint of heart – but at the same time, it’s full of heart. It’s a story about connection, about redemption, about the wonder of the unexpected. And I realize that sounds like a strange way to describe a book about a sexually violent apocalypse, but that’s the beauty of C.J. Leede. And just like before, I’m already ready for her next book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early listening opportunity.
The narrator is Sophie, a 16-year-old girl raised in an extremely religious household. Sheltered and naïve to the ways of the secular world, Sophie is wholly unprepared when a virus sweeps the U.S.: a virus that turns the infected into raging, lustful, rapey monsters. Sophie sets out into this violent, dangerous landscape to search for her brother, Noah, finding unexpected camaraderie and fellowship along the way.
American Rapture is perfectly-paced, taking its time to introduce Sophie and her circumstances before blowing those circumstances up and turning into a relentless thrill ride through post-apocalyptic Wisconsin. It’s a violent, unflinching story, but Leede is doing so much beneath the surface. She’s telling the story of one girl’s sexual awakening into a broken world, exploring religious trauma, purity culture, shame, sexual identity, found family, and redemption. Sophie is such an authentic character: a good Catholic girl who’s been taught her whole life that her virginity is her greatest gift to give, who is acknowledging her sexual feelings for the first time and is confused, aroused, and ashamed of those feelings all at once. And she’s feeling All The Feelings during an actual apocalypse, which only adds to her internal conflict and guilt as her entire worldview is challenged. It’s brilliant, the way Leede juxtaposes Sophie’s experiences of desire and shame, of innocence and violence.
American Rapture is not for the faint of heart – but at the same time, it’s full of heart. It’s a story about connection, about redemption, about the wonder of the unexpected. And I realize that sounds like a strange way to describe a book about a sexually violent apocalypse, but that’s the beauty of C.J. Leede. And just like before, I’m already ready for her next book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early listening opportunity.
April 14, 2025
This book wasn't for me. I think I need to learn that that type of cover heralds something that's just not going to be my vibe even though the aesthetic absolutely is.
The story and the character's reactions to event were so so so repetitive and just meh. I didn't care for her even though I had some sympathy for her, the side characters all seemed to have more interesting inner lives and she was one tone from beginning to end. There were maybe 2 scenes that got to me (the way she was treated in the classroom and what happened to the dog) and otherwise I just wanted it to end.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
The story and the character's reactions to event were so so so repetitive and just meh. I didn't care for her even though I had some sympathy for her, the side characters all seemed to have more interesting inner lives and she was one tone from beginning to end. There were maybe 2 scenes that got to me (the way she was treated in the classroom and what happened to the dog) and otherwise I just wanted it to end.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,694 reviews