What do you think?
Rate this book
Inner Sanctum
The town of Egerton has a sinister secret, one that is causing all sorts of unrest and fear. Most are content to die there, most with the exception of Aurora Cassle. Will she be successful in leading the town to freedom? Will she be able to reach the surface and find what she needs? Don't miss this amazing dystopian novel that will make you reach deep and reconnect with hope. This book has an amazing ending!
326 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2014
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 4, 2016
In the mid 2100's, with a global war raging, underground cities were established as refuges. The plan was to assess the inhabitants' health at the 50-year mark and then seal them in until those on the surface considered it safe to bring them back.
Around 400 years after its founding, Aurora Cassle and her childhood friend, Den Maron, hold responsible positions in the underground city of Egerton. Aurora's discovery that the population is declining in numbers and in health coincides with the finding of the forgotten door to the surface.
The mayor insists all citizens must remain in Egerton. Aurora and Den lead those who defy him through the doorway. Aurora's and Den's marriages have both ended by this point, and their childhood attraction revives during their early days on the surface.
I found the plot an interesting concept, very well thought-out and researched, especially in terms of how a colony could survive and what medical effects could manifest over generations. The first half of the novel takes place underground, the second on what the people begin to call New World Earth. It's interesting to watch them rediscover, rebuild and work together.
In terms of story delivery, I couldn't really engage with the characters. Everything felt a bit distant, except for a few disturbingly sensual encounters between Aurora and Den in the second half. That said, Inner Sanctum is a clean read, and there's a Judeo-Christian faith element in the latter part as Aurora discovers records of the Old World Earth religions and finds parallels between the Egertonians' journey and the Israelites of the Old Testament.
I love the cover.
Inner Sanctum is Canadian author Darlene Oakley's first novel, although she has a long track record behind the scenes as an editor. For more about the author, visit Dar's Corrections.
Stars: 4 for story construction, 3 for delivery.
[Review copy provided by the publisher.]
Around 400 years after its founding, Aurora Cassle and her childhood friend, Den Maron, hold responsible positions in the underground city of Egerton. Aurora's discovery that the population is declining in numbers and in health coincides with the finding of the forgotten door to the surface.
The mayor insists all citizens must remain in Egerton. Aurora and Den lead those who defy him through the doorway. Aurora's and Den's marriages have both ended by this point, and their childhood attraction revives during their early days on the surface.
I found the plot an interesting concept, very well thought-out and researched, especially in terms of how a colony could survive and what medical effects could manifest over generations. The first half of the novel takes place underground, the second on what the people begin to call New World Earth. It's interesting to watch them rediscover, rebuild and work together.
In terms of story delivery, I couldn't really engage with the characters. Everything felt a bit distant, except for a few disturbingly sensual encounters between Aurora and Den in the second half. That said, Inner Sanctum is a clean read, and there's a Judeo-Christian faith element in the latter part as Aurora discovers records of the Old World Earth religions and finds parallels between the Egertonians' journey and the Israelites of the Old Testament.
I love the cover.
Inner Sanctum is Canadian author Darlene Oakley's first novel, although she has a long track record behind the scenes as an editor. For more about the author, visit Dar's Corrections.
Stars: 4 for story construction, 3 for delivery.
[Review copy provided by the publisher.]
January 28, 2016
This story felt like a eerie prediction of what will eventually happen to our world due to the ever increasing political, religious, and environmental conflicts and wars. POOF! the human race will be wiped out except for select groups chosen to move to underground or "lower earth" cities to preserve the human race and live in harmony and peace.
We meet Aurora and her people who live in Egerton, one of the lower earth cities. This society has been living and thriving for hundreds of years in ideal conditions with time honoured traditions. But is it truly ideal?
Read this wonderfully unique story to find out. Author Darlene Oakley will take you on a futuristic journey with elements of drama, suspense, Sci-Fi technology, Christianity, love, power struggles, social conflicts, and more.
I look forward to book 2 and joining Aurora and her people again as they continue on their journey of life.
Special thanks to author Darlene Oakley for providing Fiction Addiction book club with copies of your book. Then graciously giving your time to meet with us on January 25th for a very interesting and enjoyable discussion of Inner Sanctum.
It was such a pleasure meeting you in the flesh Darlene and hearing about the extensive research you did to make your story plausible.
Thanks Darlene from all of the "Addicted"!!
We meet Aurora and her people who live in Egerton, one of the lower earth cities. This society has been living and thriving for hundreds of years in ideal conditions with time honoured traditions. But is it truly ideal?
Read this wonderfully unique story to find out. Author Darlene Oakley will take you on a futuristic journey with elements of drama, suspense, Sci-Fi technology, Christianity, love, power struggles, social conflicts, and more.
I look forward to book 2 and joining Aurora and her people again as they continue on their journey of life.
Special thanks to author Darlene Oakley for providing Fiction Addiction book club with copies of your book. Then graciously giving your time to meet with us on January 25th for a very interesting and enjoyable discussion of Inner Sanctum.
It was such a pleasure meeting you in the flesh Darlene and hearing about the extensive research you did to make your story plausible.
Thanks Darlene from all of the "Addicted"!!
July 13, 2015
Ms. Oakley is an experienced editor and author of numerous articles so it is not surprising that she is able to shape words in an engaging first novel.
INNER SANCTUM is the story of people who have led a subterranean existence to escape the wars raging on the surface of the earth in the mid-2100s. The flight underground has originally preserved a society, but now that society is facing its own threats of extinction through early death and disease. Draconian measures such as an enforced limit of two children per family, early sterilization, and termination of “defective” pregnancies have failed to address the issue of the declining population.
The metaphorical and literal door to freedom is suddenly discovered during an excavation, and the heroine of the novel, Aurora Cassle, urges the mayor and city council to take advantage of this exit to once again become surface dwellers who have the benefit of the sun to sustain their lives. Branded a traitor and abandoned by her husband, Aurora, along with her long-time friend Den, leads a group from the underground to the dawn of a new civilization.
INNER SANCTUM is categorized as a “Christian dystopia,” and the parallels with the Biblical themes of escape and exile are well-developed in the novel and add a unique twist to the story because Christian values will provide the basis for the rebuilding of society on the surface.
Ms. Oakley has written a novel that will appeal to a wide audience, including readers of Christian and speculative fiction, as well as lovers of suspense and romance. This is Book 1 so it will be interesting to see how she develops the series.
INNER SANCTUM is the story of people who have led a subterranean existence to escape the wars raging on the surface of the earth in the mid-2100s. The flight underground has originally preserved a society, but now that society is facing its own threats of extinction through early death and disease. Draconian measures such as an enforced limit of two children per family, early sterilization, and termination of “defective” pregnancies have failed to address the issue of the declining population.
The metaphorical and literal door to freedom is suddenly discovered during an excavation, and the heroine of the novel, Aurora Cassle, urges the mayor and city council to take advantage of this exit to once again become surface dwellers who have the benefit of the sun to sustain their lives. Branded a traitor and abandoned by her husband, Aurora, along with her long-time friend Den, leads a group from the underground to the dawn of a new civilization.
INNER SANCTUM is categorized as a “Christian dystopia,” and the parallels with the Biblical themes of escape and exile are well-developed in the novel and add a unique twist to the story because Christian values will provide the basis for the rebuilding of society on the surface.
Ms. Oakley has written a novel that will appeal to a wide audience, including readers of Christian and speculative fiction, as well as lovers of suspense and romance. This is Book 1 so it will be interesting to see how she develops the series.
August 7, 2015
Darlene Oakley created a dying civilization that is utterly different from our dying civilization. This is why her story is so illuminating. The same kinds of denial, obfuscation and sabotage through special interest that prevent effective action in our world also impede effective action in the underground city of Egerton.
Once the story got started, it was excellent. At the end of chapter 3, I thought it deserved about 3 stars, but as I read on, it improved. This is of course a common problem with first novels, and is a pity. Despite it, this is a thought-provoking story, with interesting characters, an intriguing created reality, and a focus on the human problems we also need to deal with.
Well worth a read.
Once I formed this opinion, about two-thirds through, I could have stopped reading -- but kept going because I wanted to find out how Aurora and her group would cope with their many challenges. They came to matter to me.
Once the story got started, it was excellent. At the end of chapter 3, I thought it deserved about 3 stars, but as I read on, it improved. This is of course a common problem with first novels, and is a pity. Despite it, this is a thought-provoking story, with interesting characters, an intriguing created reality, and a focus on the human problems we also need to deal with.
Well worth a read.
Once I formed this opinion, about two-thirds through, I could have stopped reading -- but kept going because I wanted to find out how Aurora and her group would cope with their many challenges. They came to matter to me.
January 7, 2020
I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next one. The only thing about this that kind of caught me up was late in the book where she finds a Bible. I wish there was a bit more detail going into it because since it's mentioned a few times and characters talk a little about it, it seems logical that there's some importance to it. It would've been nice to read the part where she found it -- what shape was it in (worn, etc), what were her thoughts, why did it interest her, how did she know this was an old society belief rather than simply "just a book" or etc.?
January 10, 2016
I'm not sure how this book has such a high rating I thought that the story concept for this book was quite good but I must say that I feel it is very poorly written. The dialogue is juvenile with long rants trying to educate us rather than let the story unfold naturally. Almost every reader would know the story of Moses so it didn't have to be recanted as if the reader were a child. Aurora's relationships with her ex husband and children are at best superficial. There is no depth or dimension to any of the characters. I'm sorry to say that I really didn't like this book at all.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews