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The Boundless Sublime
Ruby Jane Galbraith is empty. Her family has been torn apart and it's all her fault.
The only thing that makes sense to her is Fox - a gentle new friend who is wise, soulful and clever, yet oddly naive about the ways of the world. He understands what she's going through and he offers her a chance to find peace. Fox belongs to a group called the Institute of the Boundless Sublime - and Ruby can't stay away from him. So she is also drawn into what she discovers is a terrifying, secretive community that is far from the ideal world she expected.
Can Ruby find the courage to escape? Is there any way she can save Fox too? And is there ever an escape from the far-reaching influence of the Institute of the Boundless Sublime?
A gripping YA novel about an ordinary girl who is seduced into a modern-day cult.
'A brilliant, searing trip into the world of cults and brainwashing. Her best book yet.' - Justine Larbalestier
The only thing that makes sense to her is Fox - a gentle new friend who is wise, soulful and clever, yet oddly naive about the ways of the world. He understands what she's going through and he offers her a chance to find peace. Fox belongs to a group called the Institute of the Boundless Sublime - and Ruby can't stay away from him. So she is also drawn into what she discovers is a terrifying, secretive community that is far from the ideal world she expected.
Can Ruby find the courage to escape? Is there any way she can save Fox too? And is there ever an escape from the far-reaching influence of the Institute of the Boundless Sublime?
A gripping YA novel about an ordinary girl who is seduced into a modern-day cult.
'A brilliant, searing trip into the world of cults and brainwashing. Her best book yet.' - Justine Larbalestier
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2016
10 people are currently reading
1278 people want to read
About the author
Lili Wilkinson
33 books367 followersLili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is A Hunger of Thorns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
August 8, 2016
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Actual rating: 2.5
It’s no surprise: cults are disturbing. People will mindlessly follow a leader, who will brainwash them to do things without question. The Boundless Sublime captures this element well, from preying on the weak minded with warmth, inclusion and promises, and descending into the dark heart of human manipulation.
Unfortunately, what it takes to progress into a cult is a character who fails to question the warning bells. In her desperation to escape her difficult home life filled with grief from her brother’s death, Ruby wants to be a part of a support network that makes her feel special and important. When she meets the beguiling Fox, she gets lured in by his kind words and his happy demeanour, and before she can question it, she’s in too deep. This happens within the first 20 pages, which had me suspending my disbelief at times with the extremely fast insta-love.
From the kind chatter of the Red House to their intellectual talks about life and their healthy food, Ruby soon gets reeled in to the mask of the cult. They believe that people are toxicants, polluting themselves with sugar, artificial foods and material items and people tying them down to the Earth. The way they view people are as mindless zombies who aren’t in control of their bodies. So the Boundless Sublime eat and drink food as close to the natural elements as possible.
Despite this being a massive warning bell to Ruby, who at this point starts to question whether it’s a cult, I wanted to yell at her: what looks like a cult, feels like a cult, behaves like a cult but isn’t a cult? Nothing! It was also frustrating how the romance with Fox was the key reason why she decided to leave her family behind and forget about her grieving mum. While Fox is curious like a child, he’s also clueless and has never heard of a straw before, it’s kind of disturbing. I would be running a mile at this grown teenager who seems completely clueless and perhaps reporting him to the authorities. But not Ruby.
The narrative is split up into three distinct parts – Ruby’s life before joining the Institute, being at the Institute and meeting the cult leader, and then becoming a fully fledged cultee. The transition between these parts was sudden and jarring, with a quick transition as she gets brainwashed and starts descending into darkness. The last part of the book was really thrilling, filled with twists and darkness that I didn’t see coming. Unfortunately, everything felt too easily resolved especially when some of the more disturbing actions had no repercussions.
From the warm inviting glow at the start to the disturbing events at the end of that book, The Boundless Sublime really does explore the dangerous depths of a cult. Unfortunately, it was rather unbelievable at times especially as the cult’s purpose is revealed. I definitely had to suspend my disbelief at times, and was really frustrated with Ruby’s character as she just went along with it. The romance was unconvincing as well and made me feel rather uncomfortable at a few points. I also wasn’t convinced that people would just go along with the crazy schemes of a cult leader, especially when he would pick women to “spend time with him in the Sanctum” and these women would feel blessed that they were picked.
With the gullible characters, naïve romance and the radical beliefs of the cult, The Boundless Sublime was a frustrating, yet compelling look into the life of cults. That’s what it takes to demonstrate how these cults can come to life and brainwash people.
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 2.5
It’s no surprise: cults are disturbing. People will mindlessly follow a leader, who will brainwash them to do things without question. The Boundless Sublime captures this element well, from preying on the weak minded with warmth, inclusion and promises, and descending into the dark heart of human manipulation.
Unfortunately, what it takes to progress into a cult is a character who fails to question the warning bells. In her desperation to escape her difficult home life filled with grief from her brother’s death, Ruby wants to be a part of a support network that makes her feel special and important. When she meets the beguiling Fox, she gets lured in by his kind words and his happy demeanour, and before she can question it, she’s in too deep. This happens within the first 20 pages, which had me suspending my disbelief at times with the extremely fast insta-love.
From the kind chatter of the Red House to their intellectual talks about life and their healthy food, Ruby soon gets reeled in to the mask of the cult. They believe that people are toxicants, polluting themselves with sugar, artificial foods and material items and people tying them down to the Earth. The way they view people are as mindless zombies who aren’t in control of their bodies. So the Boundless Sublime eat and drink food as close to the natural elements as possible.
Despite this being a massive warning bell to Ruby, who at this point starts to question whether it’s a cult, I wanted to yell at her: what looks like a cult, feels like a cult, behaves like a cult but isn’t a cult? Nothing! It was also frustrating how the romance with Fox was the key reason why she decided to leave her family behind and forget about her grieving mum. While Fox is curious like a child, he’s also clueless and has never heard of a straw before, it’s kind of disturbing. I would be running a mile at this grown teenager who seems completely clueless and perhaps reporting him to the authorities. But not Ruby.
The narrative is split up into three distinct parts – Ruby’s life before joining the Institute, being at the Institute and meeting the cult leader, and then becoming a fully fledged cultee. The transition between these parts was sudden and jarring, with a quick transition as she gets brainwashed and starts descending into darkness. The last part of the book was really thrilling, filled with twists and darkness that I didn’t see coming. Unfortunately, everything felt too easily resolved especially when some of the more disturbing actions had no repercussions.
From the warm inviting glow at the start to the disturbing events at the end of that book, The Boundless Sublime really does explore the dangerous depths of a cult. Unfortunately, it was rather unbelievable at times especially as the cult’s purpose is revealed. I definitely had to suspend my disbelief at times, and was really frustrated with Ruby’s character as she just went along with it. The romance was unconvincing as well and made me feel rather uncomfortable at a few points. I also wasn’t convinced that people would just go along with the crazy schemes of a cult leader, especially when he would pick women to “spend time with him in the Sanctum” and these women would feel blessed that they were picked.
With the gullible characters, naïve romance and the radical beliefs of the cult, The Boundless Sublime was a frustrating, yet compelling look into the life of cults. That’s what it takes to demonstrate how these cults can come to life and brainwash people.
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2018
Actual Rating 2.5
Daddy says they’re free to leave at any time, but does he really mean it?
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
When you lose someone.After the recent loss of her little brother, Ruby Galbraith is floundering, and her mum is having an even harder time functioning.
Lose. People say that a lot, when someone dies. I’m sorry for your loss.
It makes it sound careless, as if my brother were a door key or umbrella, left behind on the train.
And the worst part is, they’re right. I was careless. It was me. My loss. I lost him.
She stopped going to work and answering the phone, and pulled the curtains of her sorrow tightly around herself. She sat all day in the living room, staring at the TV and smoking cigarette after cigarette. Sometimes I’d come home from school and find her, vacant-eyed, with a perfect cylinder of as protruding from pale lips. I’d speak to her, tell her about my day and the outside world, and it would take minutes for the cylinder to tremble and collapse, spilling ash down the front of her dressing-gown.She doesn’t talk about how she’s coping with anyone – with the school counselor, with her friends, with her mum – and the only way she can shut her brain off enough to sleep is by sneaking into nightclubs and dancing until she is exhausted.
I welcomed the dark, frenetic facelessness of the dance floor. Nobody stared at me with sympathetic frowns wrinkling their brows. Nobody offered understanding hugs. Nobody shifted their weight uncomfortably as they tried to work out what to say. On the dance floor, I wasn’t Ruby Jane Galbraith. I was just a body, jumping and writhing with all the other bodies. I wasn’t anybody at all.And then she meets Fox, he sees her, he understands the dark hole that she finds herself in, and he gives her hope enough to start to pull herself back out.
A jolt somewhere inside me made my knees weak. It had been a long time since I’d felt anything. For the briefest of moments, a spark flared in the darkness.But he’s only in town for a short time, and has to return to the Institute where he lives… He asks Ruby to go with him. He’s not ready to lose her already, and she’s not ready to let go of the one person who has made her feel… anything since her brother died.
The boy’s eyes were soft and brown, and full of concern and… recognition. I had the oddest feeling that he’d been waiting for me. That we’d been waiting for each other.
‘He’s looking at you,’ said Minah. ‘The hot wild angel boy is looking at you.’
Maggie elbowed me in the ribs. ‘You’re going to hear some crazy stuff over the next few days,’ she said, her voice low. ‘Some of it is pretty extreme. Just… go with it. It’s easier than making a fuss. I find it helps to understand it all as a kind of metaphor for life, you know? It’s like the Bible. All the woo-woo is there to help us to process those ideas.’So she ends up at the Institute of the Boundless Sublime, where a man who likes everyone to call him Daddy and claims he’s thousands of years old gives her a new name and tells her she’s extraordinary.
‘Right,’ I said, feeling suddenly nervous.
The Scintilla will come and light the way for us. The Institute of the Boundless Sublime will rise above all. The Quintus Septum will be vanquished, along with all their pathetic meat-followers. We shall rule the planet, gods of light and science. You, my children, will receive riches and power beyond your wildest imaginings.There are all kinds of new rules to learn and the institute – about food, and possessions, and romantic feelings – and what might seem, at first, to be a gathering of like-minded people working towards a common goal, is quickly revealed to be something rather more sinister.
And I will be everyone’s Daddy.
Daddy says they’re free to leave at any time, but does he really mean it?
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
April 26, 2017
Holy moly, what a ride! I felt like my eyes were growing rounder and wider with every page. It had me talking to myself, muttering under my breath as I read saying: no, no, not good, don't drink the kool-aid. And then SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! That plot twist!! I flipped out! I exclaimed aloud: NOOOOO!! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!!!
I was fascinated, horrified, furious, afraid. All the emotions at once. That last quarter was physically impossible to put down. It made my heart pound in my chest. I can totally imagine this on screen. I am now going to feed my toxicant meat sack chocolate to help me recover.
I was fascinated, horrified, furious, afraid. All the emotions at once. That last quarter was physically impossible to put down. It made my heart pound in my chest. I can totally imagine this on screen. I am now going to feed my toxicant meat sack chocolate to help me recover.
August 9, 2016
Ruby's family fell apart and she blames herself. When she meets Fox, there's an instant connection. He seems to see her when everyone else sees right though her. He's not like anyone else she knows. He is childlishly naive about so many things and yet has a wisdom beyond his years. He offers Ruby a chance to get to know him better and introduces her to The Institute - a commune of sorts. As Ruby starts to spend more time with Fox's family, she also gets to know more about how he lives. Are things how they seem on the surface or is there something more sinister and dangerous about The Institute?
I've read a few books about cults in the past. Robin Klein's Someone Might Hear You was one of my favourite books as a teen and I more recently read and adored The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes.
The Boundless Sublime blows those other books out of the water.
What sets this book apart is how it shows the entire journey. Where other books show you people desperate to leave these sects, The Boundless Sublime explores why someone might find themselves drawn into such a society.
Ruby is hurting and very angry at the beginning of the book. Her mother has checked out of reality and her family is in pieces. Then she meets Fox. He represents so much of what she wants. He has a family and wants her to join it. And the Institute does appear to have good values on the surface. Clean living, a lack of dependence on possessions and forgiveness for past sins. Ruby isn't entirely naive to what the Institute may be either. Her best friend tries to tell her she thinks the secretive community may be a cult (complete with yoga and "weird sex stuff"). When Ruby makes the decision to spend more time with Fox and his family at the Institute, she knows what she's giving up but she is captivated by the Institute's offer of a better and happier way of living.
The Boundless Sublime is a beguiling and frightening novel. It was scary in just how realistic Ruby's story was. Her seduction by the Institute was believable and made complete sense - which just made it all the more creepy. The choices Ruby made and her journey felt right even with the foreboding sense that something terrible was going to happen to her. There are twists and turns along the way which keep me guessing right up until the end. It's a compelling read you won't want to put down and it will make you look at seemingly harmless things in a completely new light.
I've read a few books about cults in the past. Robin Klein's Someone Might Hear You was one of my favourite books as a teen and I more recently read and adored The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes.
The Boundless Sublime blows those other books out of the water.
What sets this book apart is how it shows the entire journey. Where other books show you people desperate to leave these sects, The Boundless Sublime explores why someone might find themselves drawn into such a society.
Ruby is hurting and very angry at the beginning of the book. Her mother has checked out of reality and her family is in pieces. Then she meets Fox. He represents so much of what she wants. He has a family and wants her to join it. And the Institute does appear to have good values on the surface. Clean living, a lack of dependence on possessions and forgiveness for past sins. Ruby isn't entirely naive to what the Institute may be either. Her best friend tries to tell her she thinks the secretive community may be a cult (complete with yoga and "weird sex stuff"). When Ruby makes the decision to spend more time with Fox and his family at the Institute, she knows what she's giving up but she is captivated by the Institute's offer of a better and happier way of living.
The Boundless Sublime is a beguiling and frightening novel. It was scary in just how realistic Ruby's story was. Her seduction by the Institute was believable and made complete sense - which just made it all the more creepy. The choices Ruby made and her journey felt right even with the foreboding sense that something terrible was going to happen to her. There are twists and turns along the way which keep me guessing right up until the end. It's a compelling read you won't want to put down and it will make you look at seemingly harmless things in a completely new light.
July 8, 2018
4.5✪'s Loved it!
November 12, 2017
Trigger warnings: psychological abuse, cults, manipulation, implied rape, death of a sibling.
This book is...messed up, to be honest. It's the story of a teenage girl whose family has fallen apart after her drunken father accidentally runs over her little brother, killing him. While muddling her way through her grief and her collapsing life, she meets a cute boy and becomes entranced by his naivety. Entranced to the point where she ends up joining a cult to be around him. And then ends up finding herself indoctrinated into the cult.
So yeah. It's messed up. But it was so gripping and so compelling, and her descent into indoctrination was so gradual and creepy that I was hooked basically from the first page.
It's definitely not an easy book to read, and it's really dark a lot of the time, but it's well worth a read.
This book is...messed up, to be honest. It's the story of a teenage girl whose family has fallen apart after her drunken father accidentally runs over her little brother, killing him. While muddling her way through her grief and her collapsing life, she meets a cute boy and becomes entranced by his naivety. Entranced to the point where she ends up joining a cult to be around him. And then ends up finding herself indoctrinated into the cult.
So yeah. It's messed up. But it was so gripping and so compelling, and her descent into indoctrination was so gradual and creepy that I was hooked basically from the first page.
It's definitely not an easy book to read, and it's really dark a lot of the time, but it's well worth a read.
September 5, 2016
(3.8 STARS)
THIS BOOK WAS SO GRIPPING AND WONDERFUL YET SO HEARTBREAKING AND LIFE AFFIRMING. I adored the characters, screamed at the manipulative assholes and cried when they were in pain. This book is something else, READ IT.
"life isn't about self-deprivation, or purity, or immortality. It's about love, and comfort, and music, and ducks on a pond and ice-cream on the beach. It's about pain and grief and joy and sex and boredom and chocolate. Life is for living. So go live."
THIS BOOK WAS SO GRIPPING AND WONDERFUL YET SO HEARTBREAKING AND LIFE AFFIRMING. I adored the characters, screamed at the manipulative assholes and cried when they were in pain. This book is something else, READ IT.
"life isn't about self-deprivation, or purity, or immortality. It's about love, and comfort, and music, and ducks on a pond and ice-cream on the beach. It's about pain and grief and joy and sex and boredom and chocolate. Life is for living. So go live."
December 29, 2016
It was good, but it required a lot of suspension of disbelief. I wasn't really believing it :(
August 16, 2017
Intense, super creepy, filled with suspense.
December 29, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Earlier this year I received an eBook ARC for The Boundless Sublime because despite the fact that this Australian YA was released last year it is also now being released outside of Australia, yay! The US publisher Capstone and their teen imprint Switch Press are distributing the book throughout North America which I assume is always completely exciting and fulfilling for an Australian author when they see their work moving further out into the world. It’s also interesting to note that Switch Press has also published one of my favourite books of 2016, Children of Icarus by Caighlan Smith, so check that out too after this book North Americans!
Simply put, The Boundless Sublime is about a deeply disturbing and cunning cult that brings in a young girl when she’s at her most vulnerable. Ruby hasn’t been at all happy or healing in the months after her family fell apart but it all started looking up when she saw that angelic looking boy handing out water bottles on the street and decided to take one. In that small action she found Fox and the Institute of The Boundless Sublime but obviously, this isn’t her happy ending and the trouble was just about to begin.
One thing that I think is annoying about the book and blurb, in particular, is that she thinks her family demise is somehow her fault and I guess because she felt like it was her fault it was all that much easier to be sucked into a cult but I still think that’s all a bit silly. Having read the book I can say that the family issues were definitely not the fault of a teenage girl and she didn’t deserve anything bad to happen to her but then again I can definitely remember those really dramatic feelings and actions as a teenager. Although, I definitely never happened upon a cult and decided to go there on my own!
One thing I loved about this book most of all though was the sheer paranoia the institute put into Ruby’s mind, the other people there and also myself a little. The writing was very descriptive so I felt like I was right in there with Ruby and I felt her shortness of breath, the anxiety of the situation and the obsession it filled her with. At first, it’s all idyllic just like their type of system would be with the false promises and perfect outlook but soon enough it’s weird demands and watch out for the people following you so they make this bulletproof bubble around the people in their community to keep them there.
This book was a midrange read for me because on one side the storyline was so exciting and I couldn’t put it down but on the other, it was also a little too rushed and unrealistic for what any teenager would do. They may be naive at times and foolish but I can’t imagine ever getting this deep into something like that. However, books are largely based on things we can’t imagine ourselves doing so I totally loved putting myself in this crazy, insane situation. I can’t think of any book quite like this with the shocking twists and unpredictable events. It’s definitely a great read about an unbelievable situation!
(Thanks to Switch Press for an arc of The Boundless Sublime in exchange for an honest review!)
Earlier this year I received an eBook ARC for The Boundless Sublime because despite the fact that this Australian YA was released last year it is also now being released outside of Australia, yay! The US publisher Capstone and their teen imprint Switch Press are distributing the book throughout North America which I assume is always completely exciting and fulfilling for an Australian author when they see their work moving further out into the world. It’s also interesting to note that Switch Press has also published one of my favourite books of 2016, Children of Icarus by Caighlan Smith, so check that out too after this book North Americans!
Simply put, The Boundless Sublime is about a deeply disturbing and cunning cult that brings in a young girl when she’s at her most vulnerable. Ruby hasn’t been at all happy or healing in the months after her family fell apart but it all started looking up when she saw that angelic looking boy handing out water bottles on the street and decided to take one. In that small action she found Fox and the Institute of The Boundless Sublime but obviously, this isn’t her happy ending and the trouble was just about to begin.
One thing that I think is annoying about the book and blurb, in particular, is that she thinks her family demise is somehow her fault and I guess because she felt like it was her fault it was all that much easier to be sucked into a cult but I still think that’s all a bit silly. Having read the book I can say that the family issues were definitely not the fault of a teenage girl and she didn’t deserve anything bad to happen to her but then again I can definitely remember those really dramatic feelings and actions as a teenager. Although, I definitely never happened upon a cult and decided to go there on my own!
One thing I loved about this book most of all though was the sheer paranoia the institute put into Ruby’s mind, the other people there and also myself a little. The writing was very descriptive so I felt like I was right in there with Ruby and I felt her shortness of breath, the anxiety of the situation and the obsession it filled her with. At first, it’s all idyllic just like their type of system would be with the false promises and perfect outlook but soon enough it’s weird demands and watch out for the people following you so they make this bulletproof bubble around the people in their community to keep them there.
This book was a midrange read for me because on one side the storyline was so exciting and I couldn’t put it down but on the other, it was also a little too rushed and unrealistic for what any teenager would do. They may be naive at times and foolish but I can’t imagine ever getting this deep into something like that. However, books are largely based on things we can’t imagine ourselves doing so I totally loved putting myself in this crazy, insane situation. I can’t think of any book quite like this with the shocking twists and unpredictable events. It’s definitely a great read about an unbelievable situation!
(Thanks to Switch Press for an arc of The Boundless Sublime in exchange for an honest review!)
August 13, 2017
The Boundless Sublime is an unsettling and insightful book. Lili Wilkinson paints a frighteningly real picture of a modern day cult and how easy it is to be enthralled by a charismatic personality when you are at your weakest.
The way Daddy gets inside Ruby's head and the sway he has over the other members rings true. The isolation from the rest of the world, the constant, clever narrative that demands suspicion of others and total reliance on the community. The way the world and Ruby's understanding of it are reframed, and all possible threats to Daddy’s control are countered through fear and manipulation. How all of Daddy's decisions and actions are justified, and how cleverly he traps his members into a new system of belief. All of it feels chillingly authentic.
Yes, Ruby makes some bad choices, but Lili writes her in a way that makes those decisions heart-breakingly understandable. Grief and pain can be so unbearable that people turn to whatever solace they can find (healthy, balanced people generally don't join cults), and when you’re a teenager without a positive influence in your life, that journey can be even more treacherous.
Lili’s meticulous research into cults is obvious (check out the videos on her website). She cleverly shapes the fictitious sect in this book around a doctrine of healthy living; the members of The Boundless Sublime believe they've found a way to rid themselves of the toxins and poisons of our world. The lifestyle Daddy promotes - dressed up as science - isn’t too many steps beyond socially acceptable practices.
Of course the loving, health-conscious community Ruby thinks she’s joining turns out to have dark and violent secrets, by which point she’s in too deep to easily extricate herself.
As well as being a fascinating descent into the madness of a cult, The Boundless Sublime is also a heart-pounding psychological thriller that reaches break-neck pace in the final third of the book.
The book ends on a note a hope, and a beautiful message about the important things in life. It’s a riveting, powerful read, and a reminder that groups like this really do exist.
The way Daddy gets inside Ruby's head and the sway he has over the other members rings true. The isolation from the rest of the world, the constant, clever narrative that demands suspicion of others and total reliance on the community. The way the world and Ruby's understanding of it are reframed, and all possible threats to Daddy’s control are countered through fear and manipulation. How all of Daddy's decisions and actions are justified, and how cleverly he traps his members into a new system of belief. All of it feels chillingly authentic.
Yes, Ruby makes some bad choices, but Lili writes her in a way that makes those decisions heart-breakingly understandable. Grief and pain can be so unbearable that people turn to whatever solace they can find (healthy, balanced people generally don't join cults), and when you’re a teenager without a positive influence in your life, that journey can be even more treacherous.
Lili’s meticulous research into cults is obvious (check out the videos on her website). She cleverly shapes the fictitious sect in this book around a doctrine of healthy living; the members of The Boundless Sublime believe they've found a way to rid themselves of the toxins and poisons of our world. The lifestyle Daddy promotes - dressed up as science - isn’t too many steps beyond socially acceptable practices.
Of course the loving, health-conscious community Ruby thinks she’s joining turns out to have dark and violent secrets, by which point she’s in too deep to easily extricate herself.
As well as being a fascinating descent into the madness of a cult, The Boundless Sublime is also a heart-pounding psychological thriller that reaches break-neck pace in the final third of the book.
The book ends on a note a hope, and a beautiful message about the important things in life. It’s a riveting, powerful read, and a reminder that groups like this really do exist.
May 13, 2016
Sorry y'all have to wait until August...because The Boundless Sublime is the suspense thriller you need now! So, since the Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly we've been seeing quite a few cult novels popping up (and I hear more in the pipeline. Yay.) and refreshingly all have their signature brand of cult and so far of the ones I've seen, all have female protagonists and swoon (yes it can be done). Wilkinson has topped earlier efforts by producing a nice chunky read that you can savour instead of binge, and a 101 on individuals who are more vulnerable to joining cults (unlike other novels where protagonists have been forced/born into cults) Placed in contemporary Melbourne it's believable and that's what makes it more scary - that, and how you'll be looking at bottled water for a while...plus some excellent twists on twists you won't see coming
December 18, 2024
manic pixie dream boy recruits girl with tragic backstory to his cult!
November 11, 2023
This is maybe the darkest and most unflinchingly brutal YA title I've ever read. First person POV has never been so much of a punch in the gut.
I also literally could not put it down and devoured it in a single white-knuckle sitting.
I also literally could not put it down and devoured it in a single white-knuckle sitting.
August 15, 2016
I received a print copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for review.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Ruby is mired in guilt and depression from a recent family loss when she bumps into Fox, a charismatic but strangely naive young man handing out water on the street. When Ruby makes the decision to move in with Fox, her life takes a turn she couldn't possibly have imagined.
Having sat on the shelf of a university undergrad completing a major in Studies of Religion, many moons ago, I have already had an interesting taste of the research that has gone into cults, or new religious movements, as they are sometimes called. I didn't realise until I'd seen some reviews of this one that it featured cultish content, but once I did know, I was a bit sceptical as to how the author was going to make this an engaging story without it becoming cheesy and unrealistic.
The book opens on a pretty dour note: Ruby is living in a sort of suspended time with her mother after a tragic accident that caused the permanent separation of their family. Ruby's mother is practically catatonic, Ruby can't find meaning in doing the everyday things like going to school and life generally seems to be a pointless, meaningless black hole. It is from this viewpoint that Ruby interprets the unexpected kindness of Fox, a young man handing out free bottles of water on the street. She sees him as beautiful, in an almost otherworldly way, and is drawn to his naivety and his seemingly solid grip on his world.
From here, it is only a matter of time - and the painless severing of a few social and familial ties - until Ruby is subsumed into Fox's social circle and into a community of "like-minded" souls, and the "cult" aspect of the story really begins in earnest.
This book felt to me like it had a few distinctive parts. Initially, we see the surly, disconnected and generally unlikable Ruby who is so focused on the guilt, grief and chaos of her life that any other viewpoint seems laughably untenable. Soon after this we see a bit of insta-love or at least, infatuation, as Ruby becomes consumed with thoughts of Fox and sees him as an almost-saviour from her meaningless existence. Then comes doubting Ruby, who questions her new situation yet lacks the will to act in her own best interests. I won't say any more than that because one of the best parts of the book, I felt, is the fact that Ruby goes through so many changes in thought process and personality, that the atmosphere of the story is constantly in flux and we just aren't sure what will happen next.
A number of reviewers have noted that parts of the story seem so ridiculous and unlikely that they couldn't suspend their disbelief in order to engage with the stories. On one level, I can certainly see where they are coming from, becuase there were times during the book that I too was thinking, "AS IF!" I think that in order to appreciate it fully, one has to come at the story from the point of view that none of us thinks that we would ever be "dumb" enough to get caught up in a cult. Even Ruby has her doubts and eye-roll moments at the beginning. Part of the power of cults is that recruitment relies on individuals who are vulnerable, possibly suffering under mental illness or at least mental stress, and in a social position from which it is easy (or even preferable) to disengage - and Ruby fits the bill on each of these counts. Add to that the fact that she is a teenager, without fully developed reason centres in her brain, and the thought of a clever, attractive young girl getting caught up in such a community - and then being unable to find a way to leave it - isn't such a stretch.
This isn't meant to be a factual book about cults - it is fiction, for young adults, with crazy romance, teen angst and all of the other things that typify YA, so in that regard I feel I can cut it some slack in the unbelievability stakes. If you are prepared to come at it with a bit of an open mind and the knowledge that some events will seem a unlikely, then you will find an unusual and pacey tale featuring action, philosophical debate, love, betrayal, crazy gurus, bald-headed children and a second half that pelts toward the finish.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Ruby is mired in guilt and depression from a recent family loss when she bumps into Fox, a charismatic but strangely naive young man handing out water on the street. When Ruby makes the decision to move in with Fox, her life takes a turn she couldn't possibly have imagined.
Having sat on the shelf of a university undergrad completing a major in Studies of Religion, many moons ago, I have already had an interesting taste of the research that has gone into cults, or new religious movements, as they are sometimes called. I didn't realise until I'd seen some reviews of this one that it featured cultish content, but once I did know, I was a bit sceptical as to how the author was going to make this an engaging story without it becoming cheesy and unrealistic.
The book opens on a pretty dour note: Ruby is living in a sort of suspended time with her mother after a tragic accident that caused the permanent separation of their family. Ruby's mother is practically catatonic, Ruby can't find meaning in doing the everyday things like going to school and life generally seems to be a pointless, meaningless black hole. It is from this viewpoint that Ruby interprets the unexpected kindness of Fox, a young man handing out free bottles of water on the street. She sees him as beautiful, in an almost otherworldly way, and is drawn to his naivety and his seemingly solid grip on his world.
From here, it is only a matter of time - and the painless severing of a few social and familial ties - until Ruby is subsumed into Fox's social circle and into a community of "like-minded" souls, and the "cult" aspect of the story really begins in earnest.
This book felt to me like it had a few distinctive parts. Initially, we see the surly, disconnected and generally unlikable Ruby who is so focused on the guilt, grief and chaos of her life that any other viewpoint seems laughably untenable. Soon after this we see a bit of insta-love or at least, infatuation, as Ruby becomes consumed with thoughts of Fox and sees him as an almost-saviour from her meaningless existence. Then comes doubting Ruby, who questions her new situation yet lacks the will to act in her own best interests. I won't say any more than that because one of the best parts of the book, I felt, is the fact that Ruby goes through so many changes in thought process and personality, that the atmosphere of the story is constantly in flux and we just aren't sure what will happen next.
A number of reviewers have noted that parts of the story seem so ridiculous and unlikely that they couldn't suspend their disbelief in order to engage with the stories. On one level, I can certainly see where they are coming from, becuase there were times during the book that I too was thinking, "AS IF!" I think that in order to appreciate it fully, one has to come at the story from the point of view that none of us thinks that we would ever be "dumb" enough to get caught up in a cult. Even Ruby has her doubts and eye-roll moments at the beginning. Part of the power of cults is that recruitment relies on individuals who are vulnerable, possibly suffering under mental illness or at least mental stress, and in a social position from which it is easy (or even preferable) to disengage - and Ruby fits the bill on each of these counts. Add to that the fact that she is a teenager, without fully developed reason centres in her brain, and the thought of a clever, attractive young girl getting caught up in such a community - and then being unable to find a way to leave it - isn't such a stretch.
This isn't meant to be a factual book about cults - it is fiction, for young adults, with crazy romance, teen angst and all of the other things that typify YA, so in that regard I feel I can cut it some slack in the unbelievability stakes. If you are prepared to come at it with a bit of an open mind and the knowledge that some events will seem a unlikely, then you will find an unusual and pacey tale featuring action, philosophical debate, love, betrayal, crazy gurus, bald-headed children and a second half that pelts toward the finish.
August 4, 2016
2.5 stars. This review appears on my blog, Reading with Jenna.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Boundless Sublime is a thrilling and dark exploration of modern day cults and what it means to be part of one.
Ruby has had a rough 6 months. Her younger brother was killed in a car accident and she feels like it’s all her fault. Her family has been torn apart and Ruby and her mother are tiptoeing around each other and pretending that everything is okay, even though her mother is too depressed to get out of bed and Ruby has been partying every night in order to forget. But when she meets the mysterious and alluring Fox one day, she becomes enamoured and falls quickly in love with him and his ideologies. When he takes her home to meet his ‘family’, she’s intrigued by their lifestyle and decides to join them. And that’s when things get a bit dark and dangerous.
I’ve always been intrigued by cults but have always been kind of too terrified of them to find out more. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t do well with thrillers and mystery novels so you can imagine what I’d be like if I ever did research on cults. But I felt like The Boundless Sublime gave some really good insight on how all-consuming it can be and how wonderful it would feel to be around people who believe in the same things that you do. Also, what this novel does really well is convey the feelings of belonging that might not be possible in the ‘real world’, outside of a cult. I could understand Ruby’s wanting to be part of The Institute of the Boundless Sublime because she feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere else in the world. But it was quite scary how quickly things escalated and how quickly a person can become drawn into all the dark and scary things that are going on without knowing it. While I enjoyed the plot of the book a lot, I thought the writing was missing some transitions. I felt like I was being pulled in different directions and things just happened too suddenly all the time.
I also a little bit of a rough time with the characters. I didn’t find them to be realistic and I had to really suspend my disbelief a lot of the time. It got better in the second half of the book but I definitely found it hard to connect with Ruby and with most of the characters in the book. I did like Fox a lot but he was a bit of a Manic Pixie Dream Boy and that was a little bit off-putting to me. Ruby falls in love with him at first sight and this insta-love made it hard for me to enjoy Fox as a character. Having said that, there was much less focus on the romance and on Fox in the second half of the book and I enjoyed it a lot more at that point. The romance was definitely this book's downfall for me and it was hard to look past the insta-love that was so 'in my face', especially when this insta-love happens on page 13 of the book.
Overall, while I enjoyed the cult aspect of the book and the plot, the other elements in the novel weren't really executed well enough for my liking.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Boundless Sublime is a thrilling and dark exploration of modern day cults and what it means to be part of one.
Ruby has had a rough 6 months. Her younger brother was killed in a car accident and she feels like it’s all her fault. Her family has been torn apart and Ruby and her mother are tiptoeing around each other and pretending that everything is okay, even though her mother is too depressed to get out of bed and Ruby has been partying every night in order to forget. But when she meets the mysterious and alluring Fox one day, she becomes enamoured and falls quickly in love with him and his ideologies. When he takes her home to meet his ‘family’, she’s intrigued by their lifestyle and decides to join them. And that’s when things get a bit dark and dangerous.
I’ve always been intrigued by cults but have always been kind of too terrified of them to find out more. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t do well with thrillers and mystery novels so you can imagine what I’d be like if I ever did research on cults. But I felt like The Boundless Sublime gave some really good insight on how all-consuming it can be and how wonderful it would feel to be around people who believe in the same things that you do. Also, what this novel does really well is convey the feelings of belonging that might not be possible in the ‘real world’, outside of a cult. I could understand Ruby’s wanting to be part of The Institute of the Boundless Sublime because she feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere else in the world. But it was quite scary how quickly things escalated and how quickly a person can become drawn into all the dark and scary things that are going on without knowing it. While I enjoyed the plot of the book a lot, I thought the writing was missing some transitions. I felt like I was being pulled in different directions and things just happened too suddenly all the time.
I also a little bit of a rough time with the characters. I didn’t find them to be realistic and I had to really suspend my disbelief a lot of the time. It got better in the second half of the book but I definitely found it hard to connect with Ruby and with most of the characters in the book. I did like Fox a lot but he was a bit of a Manic Pixie Dream Boy and that was a little bit off-putting to me. Ruby falls in love with him at first sight and this insta-love made it hard for me to enjoy Fox as a character. Having said that, there was much less focus on the romance and on Fox in the second half of the book and I enjoyed it a lot more at that point. The romance was definitely this book's downfall for me and it was hard to look past the insta-love that was so 'in my face', especially when this insta-love happens on page 13 of the book.
Overall, while I enjoyed the cult aspect of the book and the plot, the other elements in the novel weren't really executed well enough for my liking.
July 5, 2017
pardon my french but what the fuuuuuuuuuuuuck
1. This book was WEIRD. I mean cults are weird enough, but reading a fictional novel about one is even weirder. I had so many questions. Like how can someone be SO brainwashed? Do you not pick up on the warning signs?? Why would you simply accept ditching the comforts of the 21st century for an isolated institution with minimal (and completely disgusting) food, freezing cold showers and no contact with the outside world? Maybe the point of the book was to show how cults work (?????), but boy did it frustrate me.
And don't even get me started on 'Daddy'.
2. So while it was really weird, this book was also really compelling. A bit like watching something you know you shouldn't but you just can't look away, y'know?
Finallyyyyyyyyy Fox was definitely the best part of the entire book and I don't have much else to say other than wtf bro
1. This book was WEIRD. I mean cults are weird enough, but reading a fictional novel about one is even weirder. I had so many questions. Like how can someone be SO brainwashed? Do you not pick up on the warning signs?? Why would you simply accept ditching the comforts of the 21st century for an isolated institution with minimal (and completely disgusting) food, freezing cold showers and no contact with the outside world? Maybe the point of the book was to show how cults work (?????), but boy did it frustrate me.
And don't even get me started on 'Daddy'.
2. So while it was really weird, this book was also really compelling. A bit like watching something you know you shouldn't but you just can't look away, y'know?
Finallyyyyyyyyy Fox was definitely the best part of the entire book and I don't have much else to say other than wtf bro
January 16, 2017
Girl meets boy. Boy is in a cult. Girl joins cult to be with boy. What could go wrong?
This isn't your standard YA - it starts off all cute and romantic, but you know that beneath the surface, there is some insidious business going down. The further the story goes, the more engrossing the tension gets, as the reader wonders when the story is going to turn a corner. And then it does, and you can't put this book down.
Creepy and compelling - yet entirely believable - Lili has done her research on modern-day suburban cults, and the circumstances that lead to people being trapped in them. From now on, I'll always be suspicious of random people handing out free bottles of water...
This isn't your standard YA - it starts off all cute and romantic, but you know that beneath the surface, there is some insidious business going down. The further the story goes, the more engrossing the tension gets, as the reader wonders when the story is going to turn a corner. And then it does, and you can't put this book down.
Creepy and compelling - yet entirely believable - Lili has done her research on modern-day suburban cults, and the circumstances that lead to people being trapped in them. From now on, I'll always be suspicious of random people handing out free bottles of water...
August 22, 2016
I was teetering on the edge of whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars but decided that the pure imagination and thought put into this plot deserves the latter. This story is spooky, crazy, weird and eye opening. And now after reading it, I will never look at basic items - like a bottle of water - the same ever again.
Lili has definitely put her all into this and it is clearly obvious because even just thinking about all of the individual elements and pieces of information in The Boundless Sublime gives me an aneurysm (in a good way).
Lili has definitely put her all into this and it is clearly obvious because even just thinking about all of the individual elements and pieces of information in The Boundless Sublime gives me an aneurysm (in a good way).
September 21, 2016
I have read a few different books about cults this year but this one is my favourite by far! I like the fact that it has a clear ending of life slowly getting better and moving on.
May 18, 2018
"My name is Ruby Jane Galbraith, and I'm no Messiah."
I am always intrigued, interested, and curious about cults, so I love reading books about them. Seeing what pushed people to join a cult, if they completely fall for the lies, I want to see how the cult works, and then also want to root for our character (and her friends and other innocent people) to get the hell out of this place.
Say hello to Ruby, she hasn't had the easiest months. Her brother died (though at first I thought it was her father). We later find out what has happened, and the giant impact it left on the family. Ruby is slowly spiralling into blackness. You can just see that this girl is not doing well, and that it is only a matter of time before she completely gets lost. It is at this dire moment that she meets Fox. An enigmatic, cute, charming boy of her age who talks to her, invites her to a home, and then also tells her about the community he lives with. Yep, warning bells are ringing. Even Ruby can sense that something may be wrong, but we can also tell that she is falling for it. Falling for the sweet talk, falling for Fox.
I was a bit amazed that she went from eh to all the help to OMG, yes you are talking to my soul stuff. It was just a bit too fast for me, it would have been nicer if this had been a bit more gradual instead of POOF.
I did love that while she was at the cult she still stayed quite sceptical about everything that happened. You saw it was still affecting her, and that she was still falling for it, but you could see she still a measure of common sense and intelligence. It was quite interesting. Quite often with cult books we get people who are either infatuated with the system, the leader, everything, or have been there for ages and are, due to stuff happening, slowly noticing the cracks. I was quite sad when, due to events happening at the cult, she lost reason. She was broken. I won't tell you what happened to her that caused it, but be warned that it was quite *looks for the word, I will just use the Dutch word* heftig.
The cult was quite interesting to read about, it was pretty much the same fare as many other cults I have read about. Charismatic leader, food restrictions, strange rules. But here it was a bit more. The younger kids had no names, had no identity, they were called Monkeys. They had shaven heads. Sexual relations were forbidden. Only the leader could have audiences with woman (yep, you can imagine what that meant :|).
Daddy (dear lord, that title). He was just so creepy and slimy. I didn't like him from the start, I just knew that he was a bad guy, that he was doing things that no one should ever do.
Fox and Ruby? I just loved them together, even if I wasn't such a big fan of Fox. Sorry, I just thought he was a bit too much, I understand that he has been in the cult all his life, he has no way of knowing what is happening outside, but still. For some reason he just got on my nerves. It was as if he was stuck at age 5 instead of being 18/19. But still, they were cute together, and I loved how Ruby helped him out, tried to teach him more things.
The ending, and that DANG twist? Oh man, I just didn't expect that one to happen. Now that I look back though I guess I could have seen it coming, but I was just too engrossed in the book to notice. I definitely love that the author added this and how well they wrote it. *double thumbs up* I did feel sorry for Ruby, she tried so hard (though I have to say that at times I thought she would run back), but then this happens.
I have to say I was a bit pissed that she was so hesitant to go to police when she got out, or talk to anyone. She promised people. But again she goes back to her shell, again she runs away from it all. I get that the whole cult stuff broke her, did stuff to her, but still, it was just so much typical Ruby and I wanted to shake her around.
It was btw no surprise that all those things she ate all day were bad for her. I just worry about the kids and the adults, the one who have been there for so long. How much damage do they have? Can it be fixed? Or are they screwed?
Yep, this book was awesome. I just couldn't stop reading, I would highly recommend it. Ruby may at times be a bit annoying, but she is still a brilliant character. While I am not too happy that she ran away to the cult, I can imagine why she did it. The darkness in her was too overwhelming.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am always intrigued, interested, and curious about cults, so I love reading books about them. Seeing what pushed people to join a cult, if they completely fall for the lies, I want to see how the cult works, and then also want to root for our character (and her friends and other innocent people) to get the hell out of this place.
Say hello to Ruby, she hasn't had the easiest months. Her brother died (though at first I thought it was her father). We later find out what has happened, and the giant impact it left on the family. Ruby is slowly spiralling into blackness. You can just see that this girl is not doing well, and that it is only a matter of time before she completely gets lost. It is at this dire moment that she meets Fox. An enigmatic, cute, charming boy of her age who talks to her, invites her to a home, and then also tells her about the community he lives with. Yep, warning bells are ringing. Even Ruby can sense that something may be wrong, but we can also tell that she is falling for it. Falling for the sweet talk, falling for Fox.
I was a bit amazed that she went from eh to all the help to OMG, yes you are talking to my soul stuff. It was just a bit too fast for me, it would have been nicer if this had been a bit more gradual instead of POOF.
I did love that while she was at the cult she still stayed quite sceptical about everything that happened. You saw it was still affecting her, and that she was still falling for it, but you could see she still a measure of common sense and intelligence. It was quite interesting. Quite often with cult books we get people who are either infatuated with the system, the leader, everything, or have been there for ages and are, due to stuff happening, slowly noticing the cracks. I was quite sad when, due to events happening at the cult, she lost reason. She was broken. I won't tell you what happened to her that caused it, but be warned that it was quite *looks for the word, I will just use the Dutch word* heftig.
The cult was quite interesting to read about, it was pretty much the same fare as many other cults I have read about. Charismatic leader, food restrictions, strange rules. But here it was a bit more. The younger kids had no names, had no identity, they were called Monkeys. They had shaven heads. Sexual relations were forbidden. Only the leader could have audiences with woman (yep, you can imagine what that meant :|).
Daddy (dear lord, that title). He was just so creepy and slimy. I didn't like him from the start, I just knew that he was a bad guy, that he was doing things that no one should ever do.
Fox and Ruby? I just loved them together, even if I wasn't such a big fan of Fox. Sorry, I just thought he was a bit too much, I understand that he has been in the cult all his life, he has no way of knowing what is happening outside, but still. For some reason he just got on my nerves. It was as if he was stuck at age 5 instead of being 18/19. But still, they were cute together, and I loved how Ruby helped him out, tried to teach him more things.
The ending, and that DANG twist? Oh man, I just didn't expect that one to happen. Now that I look back though I guess I could have seen it coming, but I was just too engrossed in the book to notice. I definitely love that the author added this and how well they wrote it. *double thumbs up* I did feel sorry for Ruby, she tried so hard (though I have to say that at times I thought she would run back), but then this happens.
I have to say I was a bit pissed that she was so hesitant to go to police when she got out, or talk to anyone. She promised people. But again she goes back to her shell, again she runs away from it all. I get that the whole cult stuff broke her, did stuff to her, but still, it was just so much typical Ruby and I wanted to shake her around.
It was btw no surprise that all those things she ate all day were bad for her. I just worry about the kids and the adults, the one who have been there for so long. How much damage do they have? Can it be fixed? Or are they screwed?
Yep, this book was awesome. I just couldn't stop reading, I would highly recommend it. Ruby may at times be a bit annoying, but she is still a brilliant character. While I am not too happy that she ran away to the cult, I can imagine why she did it. The darkness in her was too overwhelming.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 19, 2017
Somewhere between 3-4 stars.
It took me longer than I thought it would to get into this book. When I heard Lili talk about her process and the subject matter, I was certain this would be totally up my alley. And it was interesting! But I also find myself unable to suspend my disbelief about the end. It just... didn't feel real. It went from cult to conspiracy really quickly (not in the typical "everyone is out to get us because we know the truth" way that all cults are, but a more person-specific conspiracy that felt rushed.) and I honestly wanted more for Ruby in the end.
All of that aside, this was an addictive read and after I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Lili Wilkinson is an incredible storyteller.
It took me longer than I thought it would to get into this book. When I heard Lili talk about her process and the subject matter, I was certain this would be totally up my alley. And it was interesting! But I also find myself unable to suspend my disbelief about the end. It just... didn't feel real. It went from cult to conspiracy really quickly (not in the typical "everyone is out to get us because we know the truth" way that all cults are, but a more person-specific conspiracy that felt rushed.) and I honestly wanted more for Ruby in the end.
All of that aside, this was an addictive read and after I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Lili Wilkinson is an incredible storyteller.
July 6, 2019
This book is definitely a thriller... The boundless Sublime shows a rare glimpse into the alluring world of cults both from a sceptic, devoted member and someone just looking to escape the ‘black tide’ that is grief. The beautiful writing kept me turning page after page (once I got past the beginning that was) because I just needed to find out what would happen to Ruby and Fox. This book asks the hard questions not only about life in a cult but also about the lives those in our society live, definitely worth a read.
December 12, 2019
Absolutely loved this book. I've read several Lili Wilkinson books and enjoyed them all but I think this is her best by far.
I read it whenever I could snatch some time, including during lunch breaks at work. I was not happy when I had to put it down and go back to work!
Wilkinson did a massive amount of research on cults for this novel and it shows. Yet the best thing about The Boundless Sublime for me was the intricate and compelling way that Wilkinson showed Ruby's resistance, how that was broken down, and how she was able to rebuild herself.
It takes a highly skilful writer to pull of that sort of transformation, and Wilkinson managed it brilliantly.
Fast-paced, compassionate, authentic, honest and compelling, this is a must read.
I read it whenever I could snatch some time, including during lunch breaks at work. I was not happy when I had to put it down and go back to work!
Wilkinson did a massive amount of research on cults for this novel and it shows. Yet the best thing about The Boundless Sublime for me was the intricate and compelling way that Wilkinson showed Ruby's resistance, how that was broken down, and how she was able to rebuild herself.
It takes a highly skilful writer to pull of that sort of transformation, and Wilkinson managed it brilliantly.
Fast-paced, compassionate, authentic, honest and compelling, this is a must read.
June 26, 2017
a very heavy book topic she captures fox's nativity perfectly, at times i found myself gasping in horror and how addicting and terrifying a modern day cult is, written for a YA audience but not shirking from it either. Read this a while ago, and bought because of the interesting cover. the title I don't see alot that has Sublime in it and cleverly used. or i just like seeing synonyms haha.
July 3, 2018
Once I started, I couldn't put it down!
August 30, 2024
this is my third read and honestly i’m speechless, this book blows me away everytime, from start to finish i was always at the edge of my seat. my favourite always.
July 24, 2025
It was a little slow to start and took me a little bit to get into but then I couldn’t put it down.
October 21, 2016
4.5. This is a chilling and deeply unsettling book, and I loved it. I especially loved that it was so creepy because it was designed to be a creepy book; very different to Lili's previous work of course, but I'm ready for her to write more like this.
May 22, 2017
The Boundless Sublime was one of the many new releases I had on my 2016 ‘Want to Read’ list and didn’t quite get to, but after reading Lili Wilkinson’s story ‘Oona Underground’ in Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology, I took myself down to Dymocks and picked up a copy.
I deeply regret that it took me so long to finally get to it! This story is so deliciously sinister and creepy. I wrote my PhD on Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and other campus clique crime novels, and I’m endlessly fascinated by cults, cliques and secret societies, specifically the way these groups appeal to the vulnerable and alter their members’ perception of reality. So The Boundless Sublime is exactly my kind of read.
The thing that I enjoyed most about this story is that Ruby isn’t blind. She knows that the Institute of the Boundless Sublime is a cult and that its leader, Zosimon, is peddling some serious BS. Yet she still gets drawn in, and Wilkinson cleverly explores how the cult, for all its craziness, gives Ruby the things she desires most: a sense of belonging and a ‘family’ who loves and values her. It’s also a place where she can cast off the guilt she feels over her brother’s death and be viewed as extraordinary.
Wilkinson does a bang-up job of showing how cults work, preying on the vulnerable, isolating members from the wider community and building the kind of mythologies that—while often sounding completely batshit to outsiders—are also tricky to disprove. I’m about as sceptical as they come, but there were several points in The Boundless Sublime where I found myself questioning, ‘What if the Sublimates are right?’ Before giving myself a swift slap to the side of the head as a reminder that, um, no, these people are dangerous. I particularly admired the way Wilkinson portrays the cult’s leader, Zosimon. As you’d imagine, he’s a power-hungry a-hole, BUT he also believes his own bullshit to some extent—and that adds depth to his character and makes him really frightening.
In fact, all the characters in The Boundless Sublime are exceptionally well-drawn and complex. Ruby, in particular, is a challenging narrator because she’s not particularly likable. In fact, she does some really horrible things. Most of the characters do. But Wilkinson is very careful to clearly show their motivations in a way that incites empathy in her reader, even if they disagree with the characters’ choices.
The relationships in this story are also really meaty, and the romance between Ruby and Fox is deftly handled. I’ve complained elsewhere on this blog about YA romances that come across as too easy or saccharine, or that are used as a convenient route to ‘happily ever after’. By contrast, Ruby and Fox’s relationship is always problematic: they’re intensely attracted to each other but both have experienced severe trauma and for much of the story exist in a state of extreme stress. They’re not really capable of looking after themselves, and so they fail each other in ways they don’t intend. It felt very real. And if they are ultimately going to find a way to be together, they’ll have to work for it.
I also loved The Boundless Sublime simply for the fact that it’s a gripping read. In the early chapters, there’s an ominous sense of foreboding, and when Ruby arrives at the Institute, it’s like reaching the top of a roller coaster and plunging down. And fair warning: this book is dark.
The only bit that I found slightly unrealistic was the brief appearance of a gun, as Ruby herself notes: ‘I stared at it uncomprehending. A gun. … It didn’t seem real. Guns weren’t something that people just had, lying around. Guns were on television. In movies. Not in real life.’ And Ruby’s right. Getting hold of a gun in this country, particularly a handgun, is no easy feat. Even when we see them onscreen, it’s usually in American shows and films. When they do appear in Australian narratives, it’s shocking and surreal, and in this case, it pulled me out of the story for a minute. But only a minute.
I’m really glad I finally got my bum into gear and read The Boundless Sublime. It’s been one of my favourite reads so far this year, and another really great example of why I #LoveOzYA.
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I deeply regret that it took me so long to finally get to it! This story is so deliciously sinister and creepy. I wrote my PhD on Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and other campus clique crime novels, and I’m endlessly fascinated by cults, cliques and secret societies, specifically the way these groups appeal to the vulnerable and alter their members’ perception of reality. So The Boundless Sublime is exactly my kind of read.
The thing that I enjoyed most about this story is that Ruby isn’t blind. She knows that the Institute of the Boundless Sublime is a cult and that its leader, Zosimon, is peddling some serious BS. Yet she still gets drawn in, and Wilkinson cleverly explores how the cult, for all its craziness, gives Ruby the things she desires most: a sense of belonging and a ‘family’ who loves and values her. It’s also a place where she can cast off the guilt she feels over her brother’s death and be viewed as extraordinary.
Wilkinson does a bang-up job of showing how cults work, preying on the vulnerable, isolating members from the wider community and building the kind of mythologies that—while often sounding completely batshit to outsiders—are also tricky to disprove. I’m about as sceptical as they come, but there were several points in The Boundless Sublime where I found myself questioning, ‘What if the Sublimates are right?’ Before giving myself a swift slap to the side of the head as a reminder that, um, no, these people are dangerous. I particularly admired the way Wilkinson portrays the cult’s leader, Zosimon. As you’d imagine, he’s a power-hungry a-hole, BUT he also believes his own bullshit to some extent—and that adds depth to his character and makes him really frightening.
In fact, all the characters in The Boundless Sublime are exceptionally well-drawn and complex. Ruby, in particular, is a challenging narrator because she’s not particularly likable. In fact, she does some really horrible things. Most of the characters do. But Wilkinson is very careful to clearly show their motivations in a way that incites empathy in her reader, even if they disagree with the characters’ choices.
The relationships in this story are also really meaty, and the romance between Ruby and Fox is deftly handled. I’ve complained elsewhere on this blog about YA romances that come across as too easy or saccharine, or that are used as a convenient route to ‘happily ever after’. By contrast, Ruby and Fox’s relationship is always problematic: they’re intensely attracted to each other but both have experienced severe trauma and for much of the story exist in a state of extreme stress. They’re not really capable of looking after themselves, and so they fail each other in ways they don’t intend. It felt very real. And if they are ultimately going to find a way to be together, they’ll have to work for it.
I also loved The Boundless Sublime simply for the fact that it’s a gripping read. In the early chapters, there’s an ominous sense of foreboding, and when Ruby arrives at the Institute, it’s like reaching the top of a roller coaster and plunging down. And fair warning: this book is dark.
The only bit that I found slightly unrealistic was the brief appearance of a gun, as Ruby herself notes: ‘I stared at it uncomprehending. A gun. … It didn’t seem real. Guns weren’t something that people just had, lying around. Guns were on television. In movies. Not in real life.’ And Ruby’s right. Getting hold of a gun in this country, particularly a handgun, is no easy feat. Even when we see them onscreen, it’s usually in American shows and films. When they do appear in Australian narratives, it’s shocking and surreal, and in this case, it pulled me out of the story for a minute. But only a minute.
I’m really glad I finally got my bum into gear and read The Boundless Sublime. It’s been one of my favourite reads so far this year, and another really great example of why I #LoveOzYA.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
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