Vessel

by Rie Lee

In a ravaged world where survival depends on blind faith, Paige has one chance to escape an arranged marriage to a boy in her post-apocalyptic cult: by becoming the town’s human sacrifice. Her plan to trade her life for freedom nearly works—until her brother and her best friend, on whom she develops a forbidden crush, are declared heretics and sentenced to death. As Paige grapples with her loyalty to the only civilization left on Earth and the impending doom of her loved ones, she faces a heart-wrenching decision: stay and accept the sacrifice, or risk everything by blowing up the only home she’s ever known and venturing into nothing but desolate wasteland.

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

RIE LEE (she/her/hers) is a recovering true believer. She's a little too obsessed with cults and almost definitely on some kind of FBI watchlist for researching pipe bombs. She is an alum of the MFA at EWU and is currently pursuing an MLIS focusing on user experience and the intersection of trust and information. Originally from Fresno, California, she now spends most of her free time at multiple libraries and coffee shops in the Los Angeles area, writing books or working on civic engagement initiatives (https://votingstudyparty.org). Find her work at https://riewrites.org or follow her on Instagram (@yesrielee).

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Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very curious with the synopsis of the book, and to be really honest I think this book was the description of a religious cult done right, and I don’t mean I wish things will go this way, no, definitely not, but when I read about dystiopian world based in a religious sect, it sounds so strange and detached from real life, but that wasnt what I found here… and I kind of reminded me of the giver, because of the duality of the meanings of the words and tittles, for example, what is the vessel, if not a sacrifice for all society?

Page our main character, is a very good example of a brainwashed youth, she thrives to become a sacrifice to clean up her family and all town, and another high point that has to do with page, she is a lesbian, and that is not all she is, but is part of her, she has intimate feeling for her best friend Moth. And while I may sound like a broken record, I really like that she is a lesbian (she doesn’t use that word, she says that because of having feelings for Moth, she may be a Theorist) and Theorists deserve death and be purified because they go against the natural way of life… but to be honest, She is Page, and things happen around her, and because of that she starts to see things differently and for what they are, and she needs to make choices, and that my friend is what makes or break a person… of course, this is not really a spoiler because part of this is already part of the synopsis of the book and I wont go further, this was a solid read for me, starts a bit slow, but I did enjoy it.


Thank you LibraryThing, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Scott Coon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rie Lee has created a chilling and engaging story about a cult like community isolated after the end of the world. Through the main character, Paige, your experience what life and thought is like when raised within a high-control environment. She goes through an upheaval of her own identity as she’s forced to face the reality of the system that she’d put her faith and trust in. Vessel’s compelling narrative culminates in a powerful ending that was satisfying but also left me wanting more. I highly recommend this novel.

[Erica Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book set in the post apocalypse. It's a tender look at Paige as she struggles with her feelings for her friend against the morals set by the very cult like community she grew up in. I loved the story, it's a horrifying cult, but all too close to possible and the excuses people will make for themselves in the face of religion.
Paige and Mott are so well written, it is easy to get lost in this story.
Highly recommend

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of The Giver so when a WOC written book was comp’d as if The Giver was a religious cult, I was absolutely all for it. The writing was beautifully done, I loved that there were additions of the Statutes and poetry from those who no longer believed. It added a depth to the story that made it hard to stomach sometimes (if only because wow I related too hard to Paige).

[Tiare M.B.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what I imagine cults being like. The main character’s journey from being a follower to well, deciding to continue being so or find another path is an intriguing read. Highly recommend this book!