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Breaking the World
In 1993, David Koresh predicted the end of the world. What if he was right? Cyrus doesn't believe in David's predictions, and he's not interested in being part of a cult. But after the sudden death of his brother, his parents split up and his mom drags him to Waco, Texas against his will. At least he's not alone. His friends, Marshal and Rachel, have equally sad stories that end with them being dumped at the Branch Davidian Church. Together, they're the trinity of nonbelievers, atheist teens caught between a soon to be infamous cult leader, an erratic FBI, and an epidemic that may confirm the worst of the church's apocalyptic prophecies. With tanks surrounding the Branch Davidians and tear gas in the air, Cyrus and his friends know one thing for They can't count on the adults to save them. In his debut novel, Jerry Gordon takes readers deep inside the longest standoff in law enforcement history for an apocalyptic thriller that challenges the news media's reporting of the event, the wisdom of militarizing domestic law enforcement, and the blurry line between religion and cult. "The things we do to each other are more awful than any haunted house, ghoul, or demon could ever be, and in BREAKING THE WORLD, Jerry Gordon delivers an unflinching look at real-life horror. This novel will gnaw its way through your skull, burrow into your brain, and mess with you in the best way possible. It’s a pitch-black tale of moral ambiguity, with sympathetic characters facing a home-grown apocalypse of twisted faith, fire, and madness. It’s one of the strongest horror debuts in recent memory, which not only entertains but provides penetrating insight into a dark chapter of American history. This is horror done right. "
– Tim Waggoner, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of LIKE DEATH "An absorbing blend of history and narrative fiction which elevates the Waco tragedy into an unforgettable exploration of society, faith, and truth. BREAKING THE WORLD by Jerry Gordon is a compelling novel that thunders, and challenges, from page one. The characters are genuine, the struggles throughout are powerful, balanced, and thoughtful. The novel’s conclusion and Gordon’s ideas within do what great fiction often hopes to – defies and then transcends what we thought we knew."
– Geoffrey Girard, Bram Stoker-nominated author of PROJECT CAIN and TRUTHERS
– Tim Waggoner, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of LIKE DEATH "An absorbing blend of history and narrative fiction which elevates the Waco tragedy into an unforgettable exploration of society, faith, and truth. BREAKING THE WORLD by Jerry Gordon is a compelling novel that thunders, and challenges, from page one. The characters are genuine, the struggles throughout are powerful, balanced, and thoughtful. The novel’s conclusion and Gordon’s ideas within do what great fiction often hopes to – defies and then transcends what we thought we knew."
– Geoffrey Girard, Bram Stoker-nominated author of PROJECT CAIN and TRUTHERS
218 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 21, 2020
Thank you to the editor at Apex Publishing for advanced reading copies of this book in exchange for an honest review by the Night Worms (#nightworms on Twitter & Instagram)
I think most people who pick this book up to read it would do so because they have some basic interest in the real, historical events that happened in Waco, Texas back in the 90s. *Or* at least a fascination with cults. Jerry Gordon sets out to expand on our knowledge of the Branch Davidians through the narrative of a young man brought to the compound by his mother.
This is not a "slow burn". This is action packed from the first sentence to the last. And honestly, that's my only real complaint. I felt like I didn't have enough set up to really care about any of the characters involved in the very life-threatening situation they find themselves in right on page one.
All of the character development happens much later-so at first, I didn't feel like I was engaged, just a mere observer.
About 100 pages in, things get very interesting. Jerry Gordon uses a familiar story and takes some unique liberties with it that I think horror fans will enjoy.
In fact, it would be awesome to see this one as a movie.
A fast-paced, surprisingly unique apocalyptic take on a real, historical event.
I think most people who pick this book up to read it would do so because they have some basic interest in the real, historical events that happened in Waco, Texas back in the 90s. *Or* at least a fascination with cults. Jerry Gordon sets out to expand on our knowledge of the Branch Davidians through the narrative of a young man brought to the compound by his mother.
This is not a "slow burn". This is action packed from the first sentence to the last. And honestly, that's my only real complaint. I felt like I didn't have enough set up to really care about any of the characters involved in the very life-threatening situation they find themselves in right on page one.
All of the character development happens much later-so at first, I didn't feel like I was engaged, just a mere observer.
About 100 pages in, things get very interesting. Jerry Gordon uses a familiar story and takes some unique liberties with it that I think horror fans will enjoy.
In fact, it would be awesome to see this one as a movie.
A fast-paced, surprisingly unique apocalyptic take on a real, historical event.
May 27, 2018
This book was provided by Apex Publishing to all of the NightWorms reading group in exchange for an honest review.
I was in high school when the FBI raided David Koresh and the Branch Davidian compound, so of course I was busy with other things and not super interested in the news. Of course I saw the footage on television, but it was in passing, on my way out the door for a party or a night at the movies with my friends. The raid that was happening in Waco was not something I knew any details about. I just knew a cult was in a standoff with the US government.
To this day I still would not have been able to give you any details about what happened all those years ago, so I did a little digging on the internet, just so that I could familiarize myself with the story. Gordon assumes the reader knows the details surrounding Koresh and the raid on his church, and rightly so. I'm sure I'm in the minority of people my age who knew so little about the details of the Branch Davidian Church, and the role Koresh played in getting most of his followers killed.
This book starts right at the very beginning of the raid, and doesn't let up. The reader is thrown into the action immediately, and that action continues for most of the novel. I was immediately drawn in, and at somewhere around the half-way point I started to research Koresh. I really liked how the book starts off with guns blazing, but it was hard to relate to the characters right away, since they are under attack when the reader first encounters them. Their stories are revealed as the novel progresses, and that's good, but I had trouble remembering who was killed or injured right away because all of the characters are pretty much unknown at that point. And honestly, that's my only complaint.
I loved what Gordon did with the second half of the story, which I won't even tease here. It's surprising and really adds to the tension, so it's better to know nothing about it going into this novel. I would like to take a moment to admonish 17-year-old me for not paying more attention to this story as it was happening. This is fascinating stuff, and Gordon expertly blends real history with fictional elements that will leave you thinking about this story for days.
I was in high school when the FBI raided David Koresh and the Branch Davidian compound, so of course I was busy with other things and not super interested in the news. Of course I saw the footage on television, but it was in passing, on my way out the door for a party or a night at the movies with my friends. The raid that was happening in Waco was not something I knew any details about. I just knew a cult was in a standoff with the US government.
To this day I still would not have been able to give you any details about what happened all those years ago, so I did a little digging on the internet, just so that I could familiarize myself with the story. Gordon assumes the reader knows the details surrounding Koresh and the raid on his church, and rightly so. I'm sure I'm in the minority of people my age who knew so little about the details of the Branch Davidian Church, and the role Koresh played in getting most of his followers killed.
This book starts right at the very beginning of the raid, and doesn't let up. The reader is thrown into the action immediately, and that action continues for most of the novel. I was immediately drawn in, and at somewhere around the half-way point I started to research Koresh. I really liked how the book starts off with guns blazing, but it was hard to relate to the characters right away, since they are under attack when the reader first encounters them. Their stories are revealed as the novel progresses, and that's good, but I had trouble remembering who was killed or injured right away because all of the characters are pretty much unknown at that point. And honestly, that's my only complaint.
I loved what Gordon did with the second half of the story, which I won't even tease here. It's surprising and really adds to the tension, so it's better to know nothing about it going into this novel. I would like to take a moment to admonish 17-year-old me for not paying more attention to this story as it was happening. This is fascinating stuff, and Gordon expertly blends real history with fictional elements that will leave you thinking about this story for days.
May 15, 2018
"The world doesn't end with the apocalypse, Cyrus. It just changes."
Breaking the World was a lot of fun - it's a horror retelling of the Waco siege, and it was a pretty unique idea. If you enjoyed the concept of something like the The Hunger (historical fiction with a horror twist), you may be interested in this book.
The first half of this story starts with the botched raid, and then continues on with the Waco story from there. It always makes me sad when I hear this story, and Jerry Gordon did a good job of telling it. This book still would have been excellent with or without the supernatural element.
The ending was left fairly open-ended, so I am hoping this is going to become a series. It was an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to more from Jerry Gordon. I recommend checking this one out!
Breaking the World was a lot of fun - it's a horror retelling of the Waco siege, and it was a pretty unique idea. If you enjoyed the concept of something like the The Hunger (historical fiction with a horror twist), you may be interested in this book.
The first half of this story starts with the botched raid, and then continues on with the Waco story from there. It always makes me sad when I hear this story, and Jerry Gordon did a good job of telling it. This book still would have been excellent with or without the supernatural element.
The ending was left fairly open-ended, so I am hoping this is going to become a series. It was an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to more from Jerry Gordon. I recommend checking this one out!
April 4, 2018
I was twelve years old when the Waco siege was broadcast all over TV and David Koresh became a household name back in 1993. I wasn't much interested in the news or world affairs back then, but I remember seeing the burning Mount Carmel Center and the face of Koresh, a self-ascribed End Times prophet who, according to the FBI, was a gun runner operating a meth lab and holding the members of his cult hostage.
Much has been made in the intervening years as to the legitimacy of the government's claims in regards to Koresh's illicit activities within the compound (he may not have been an arms dealer, but he did have sexual relations with plenty of underage girls) and who initiated the violence that led to a 51-day siege that ended with Mount Carmel in flames and 80-some Branch Davidians dead, including Koresh.
Jerry Gordon drops readers right into the thick of the FBI's initial raid after an attempt to serve warrants is botched, as seen through the viewpoint of fifteen-year-old Cyrus. Cyrus and his friends are not believers, but jaded teenagers whose parents are fervent believers in Koresh's prophecies. According to Koresh, the Seven Seals are breaking. A meningitis outbreak across the Mexican border and the FBI siege are signs of the apocalypse, and Koresh has received word from God that this is it - the End of Days are upon them, and it begins right here and now at Mount Carmel.
At the center of Breaking the World is an intriguing question - what if Koresh was right? What if his apocalyptic prophecies were accurate and the portents surrounding Mount Caramel and the FBI siege signaled the breaking of the first two of the seven seals to unleash the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
Through Cyrus, Gordon gives us a highly intriguing viewpoint on the Branch Davidians and on Koresh himself. While Koresh is certainly firm in his beliefs, the majority of the Davidians are confused and astonished that the FBI would attack them, questioning why tanks and attack helicopters are being unleashed upon a church. That Cyrus and his friends are not themselves believers provides plenty of meat for an interesting character arc for each, and they find their own beliefs challenged as the siege wears on and becomes unquestionably apocalyptic in its own right. Even through the first-person perspective of Cyrus alone, that Gordon still manages to give us enough growth and insight into Breaking the World's other major players is a great achievement, particularly in regards to Cyrus's relationship with Koresh. Koresh fancies himself as a father figure to the cult's children, and this generates a tense relationship between him and Cyrus that plays out in intriguing ways. Gordon constantly forces us to question Koresh's sincerity, establishing another bit of tension between his fictional narrative and what we know (or think we know) of this real-life drama.
If Breaking the World had solely been about life within the Branch Davidian compound during the FBI standoff, I would have been perfectly content with this book. Gordon, however, ups the ante considerable with a mid-game twist that is a serious game changer. I have little doubt that some readers may hate this particular aspect, but it's one that dropped my jaw all the way to the floor and took me completely off guard. What Gordon does here is ballsy, of the big brassy kind, and I have to applaud him. It's a move that I'm fairly certain will land Breaking the World as one of my best reads of 2018, and I'll be thinking about this work for a good long while.
Breaking the World is not 100% perfect as the narrative loses a bit of steam late in the book's second half while Gordon sets up some pieces for the inevitable sequel. I will say, though, that I am eagerly anticipating the follow-up and seeing what comes next. What Gordon does right, he does with incredible exception, and few books have jolted me or left me clamoring for a follow-up quite like this.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from Apex Book Company.]
Much has been made in the intervening years as to the legitimacy of the government's claims in regards to Koresh's illicit activities within the compound (he may not have been an arms dealer, but he did have sexual relations with plenty of underage girls) and who initiated the violence that led to a 51-day siege that ended with Mount Carmel in flames and 80-some Branch Davidians dead, including Koresh.
Jerry Gordon drops readers right into the thick of the FBI's initial raid after an attempt to serve warrants is botched, as seen through the viewpoint of fifteen-year-old Cyrus. Cyrus and his friends are not believers, but jaded teenagers whose parents are fervent believers in Koresh's prophecies. According to Koresh, the Seven Seals are breaking. A meningitis outbreak across the Mexican border and the FBI siege are signs of the apocalypse, and Koresh has received word from God that this is it - the End of Days are upon them, and it begins right here and now at Mount Carmel.
At the center of Breaking the World is an intriguing question - what if Koresh was right? What if his apocalyptic prophecies were accurate and the portents surrounding Mount Caramel and the FBI siege signaled the breaking of the first two of the seven seals to unleash the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
Through Cyrus, Gordon gives us a highly intriguing viewpoint on the Branch Davidians and on Koresh himself. While Koresh is certainly firm in his beliefs, the majority of the Davidians are confused and astonished that the FBI would attack them, questioning why tanks and attack helicopters are being unleashed upon a church. That Cyrus and his friends are not themselves believers provides plenty of meat for an interesting character arc for each, and they find their own beliefs challenged as the siege wears on and becomes unquestionably apocalyptic in its own right. Even through the first-person perspective of Cyrus alone, that Gordon still manages to give us enough growth and insight into Breaking the World's other major players is a great achievement, particularly in regards to Cyrus's relationship with Koresh. Koresh fancies himself as a father figure to the cult's children, and this generates a tense relationship between him and Cyrus that plays out in intriguing ways. Gordon constantly forces us to question Koresh's sincerity, establishing another bit of tension between his fictional narrative and what we know (or think we know) of this real-life drama.
If Breaking the World had solely been about life within the Branch Davidian compound during the FBI standoff, I would have been perfectly content with this book. Gordon, however, ups the ante considerable with a mid-game twist that is a serious game changer. I have little doubt that some readers may hate this particular aspect, but it's one that dropped my jaw all the way to the floor and took me completely off guard. What Gordon does here is ballsy, of the big brassy kind, and I have to applaud him. It's a move that I'm fairly certain will land Breaking the World as one of my best reads of 2018, and I'll be thinking about this work for a good long while.
Breaking the World is not 100% perfect as the narrative loses a bit of steam late in the book's second half while Gordon sets up some pieces for the inevitable sequel. I will say, though, that I am eagerly anticipating the follow-up and seeing what comes next. What Gordon does right, he does with incredible exception, and few books have jolted me or left me clamoring for a follow-up quite like this.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from Apex Book Company.]
May 31, 2018
What a fun ride!
Breaking the World offers a thrilling alternative version of the Waco standoff (and if you’re my age and didn’t witness the press coverage of the event, head on over to Google . . . I’ll wait) which coincides with a strange flu outbreak just over the border. Jerry Gordon writes of the characters — some real, some fictional — that are members of the Branch Davidian Church. I must be honest: I had never really considered their side of the story before; I always wrote them off as crazy cultists. Though this is a fictional piece of work, it did make me reconsider David Koresh’s congregation and what made them want to follow him.
Told at a breakneck pace, the action in this one never lets up. The perspective is from a teenager, Cyrus, who has the ear of David Korean; that does not make him a devout follower, however . . . just the opposite. He sees Koresh for the imperfect man he is. Gordon gets a lot of mileage out of this character.
The other characters were a bit lacking, however, and maybe that’s because of this novel’s brevity. Clocking in at only 200 pages, there is not much time for the expansive character development and world building I was longing for (and that the author could have easily wrung out of this). I suppose it’s good that I was left wanting more, not less, but by the end I did not much sympathize with any of the leads except Cyrus (I especially didn’t much care for the forced love story between Cyrus and his friend Rachel, which I felt was unnecessary; as well, it made the ending maudlin, flat), so when the inevitable destruction came I just shrugged my shoulders.
Overall, this is a fun read — albeit it is not very memorable. Thanks to Apex Publications for supplying us Nightworms with free review copies!
Breaking the World offers a thrilling alternative version of the Waco standoff (and if you’re my age and didn’t witness the press coverage of the event, head on over to Google . . . I’ll wait) which coincides with a strange flu outbreak just over the border. Jerry Gordon writes of the characters — some real, some fictional — that are members of the Branch Davidian Church. I must be honest: I had never really considered their side of the story before; I always wrote them off as crazy cultists. Though this is a fictional piece of work, it did make me reconsider David Koresh’s congregation and what made them want to follow him.
Told at a breakneck pace, the action in this one never lets up. The perspective is from a teenager, Cyrus, who has the ear of David Korean; that does not make him a devout follower, however . . . just the opposite. He sees Koresh for the imperfect man he is. Gordon gets a lot of mileage out of this character.
The other characters were a bit lacking, however, and maybe that’s because of this novel’s brevity. Clocking in at only 200 pages, there is not much time for the expansive character development and world building I was longing for (and that the author could have easily wrung out of this). I suppose it’s good that I was left wanting more, not less, but by the end I did not much sympathize with any of the leads except Cyrus (I especially didn’t much care for the forced love story between Cyrus and his friend Rachel, which I felt was unnecessary; as well, it made the ending maudlin, flat), so when the inevitable destruction came I just shrugged my shoulders.
Overall, this is a fun read — albeit it is not very memorable. Thanks to Apex Publications for supplying us Nightworms with free review copies!
May 9, 2018
In 1993, David Koresh predicted the end of the world.
What if he was right?
Before going into Breaking the World by Jerry Gordon, I was mostly unfamiliar with the Waco, Texas standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidian Church. I had heard of David Koresh and knew he was a cult leader of some kind, but that's where my knowledge of the massacre stopped. When I was approached to read this book for review, I decided to do a little research on the subject beforehand, and wow. I am shocked that I knew so little. It's a crazy story for sure, and if you don't know about it, I recommend brushing up on it before reading this review.
Breaking the World follows a teenager named Cyrus who lives at the church. He was dragged there by his mother who is one of David Koresh's many wives. Cyrus doesn't believe any of Koresh's teachings but he doesn't think Koresh is a bad guy, just a bit out there. Well, everything Cyrus thought he knew changes when the FBI storms the church and begins attacking and killing everyone he loves. It's not long before Koresh's teachings seem to be confirmed through the actions of the FBI.
This book takes the Waco incident and turns it on its head, asking "What would it have looked like if David Koresh had actually been right?" The answer: crazy, just like him! The novel opens with a bang and just keeps going from there. It is a real ride, never letting up for even a second.
Aside from the break-neck pace, Jerry Gordon makes some strong points about the actual event, implying that the FBI should have handled the situation a bit differently. They were after Koresh but wound up killing over 80 others in the process, most of whom were weak minds following what they were taught, as well as their children. It truly was a massacre.
Overall, I found Breaking the World by Jerry Gordon to be a fascinating and entertaining read. I recommend it to fans of apocalyptic stories and anyone interested in cults.
You can also check out my video review HERE.
What if he was right?
Before going into Breaking the World by Jerry Gordon, I was mostly unfamiliar with the Waco, Texas standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidian Church. I had heard of David Koresh and knew he was a cult leader of some kind, but that's where my knowledge of the massacre stopped. When I was approached to read this book for review, I decided to do a little research on the subject beforehand, and wow. I am shocked that I knew so little. It's a crazy story for sure, and if you don't know about it, I recommend brushing up on it before reading this review.
Breaking the World follows a teenager named Cyrus who lives at the church. He was dragged there by his mother who is one of David Koresh's many wives. Cyrus doesn't believe any of Koresh's teachings but he doesn't think Koresh is a bad guy, just a bit out there. Well, everything Cyrus thought he knew changes when the FBI storms the church and begins attacking and killing everyone he loves. It's not long before Koresh's teachings seem to be confirmed through the actions of the FBI.
This book takes the Waco incident and turns it on its head, asking "What would it have looked like if David Koresh had actually been right?" The answer: crazy, just like him! The novel opens with a bang and just keeps going from there. It is a real ride, never letting up for even a second.
Aside from the break-neck pace, Jerry Gordon makes some strong points about the actual event, implying that the FBI should have handled the situation a bit differently. They were after Koresh but wound up killing over 80 others in the process, most of whom were weak minds following what they were taught, as well as their children. It truly was a massacre.
Overall, I found Breaking the World by Jerry Gordon to be a fascinating and entertaining read. I recommend it to fans of apocalyptic stories and anyone interested in cults.
You can also check out my video review HERE.
June 12, 2018
I still remember watching the events surrounding the Branch Davidian group in Waco unfold on TV. The one thing that always sticks out in my mind is how black and white the coverage was. The commune was branded a “cult.” The shared residence was referred to as a “compound.”
I’d hear my parents talking around the table about how the ATF was blasting the sound of animals being tortured to force the “cult” out of the compound. Nobody I knew really questioned the methods until it was over.
In hindsight, most people can agree: Waco was a socially-condoned disaster.
Many believe it was a government-sponsored massacre.
So yeah, sensitive topic here.
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it piqued my interest.
I went in with a veritable cornucopia of questions:
Would this book use the event to make a broader political statement about government control?
Would it address the issue from the perspective of Koresh, or would it address the issue from the side of the ATF? Would it try to tackle both?
How would a book asking, “what if the prophecies of Koresh were true?” sustain an objective balance?
In sum, it does a damned good job of addressing the issue tastefully.
This book isn’t out to make a sweeping political message. It is, at its heart, about human nature in the face of adversity.
It deals with the history eloquently because it focuses primarily on human nature.
It does not vilify, nor does it raise Koresh to a messiah-like status. He’s a human being with a sense of things to come.
Ultimately, the author handled the topic with finesse.
It was an enjoyable read.
The only reservation I had-and it was minor-was that once the story deviated from historical fiction into the realm of the unfamiliar, it just sort of ended. I’m not going to spoil how precisely it ended. Just that it did, and it seemed abrupt.
But I think there’s something very telling about this ending. I think the book ending as it did is a testament to the fact that, while Koresh may have had a sense of the general design, he didn’t have all the answers. He wasn’t the silver bullet resolving a series of conundrums.
Maybe the protagonist’s reluctant faith in the prophecies of Koresh were wrong. Maybe they were right. There’s a lot of evidence to suggest either possibility, and the degree of uncertainty the book leaves us with resonates with me, as no story truly ends. We just decide which new beginning to close on.
But I wouldn’t complain if I saw a second book emerge in the next few years ;)
I’d hear my parents talking around the table about how the ATF was blasting the sound of animals being tortured to force the “cult” out of the compound. Nobody I knew really questioned the methods until it was over.
In hindsight, most people can agree: Waco was a socially-condoned disaster.
Many believe it was a government-sponsored massacre.
So yeah, sensitive topic here.
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it piqued my interest.
I went in with a veritable cornucopia of questions:
Would this book use the event to make a broader political statement about government control?
Would it address the issue from the perspective of Koresh, or would it address the issue from the side of the ATF? Would it try to tackle both?
How would a book asking, “what if the prophecies of Koresh were true?” sustain an objective balance?
In sum, it does a damned good job of addressing the issue tastefully.
This book isn’t out to make a sweeping political message. It is, at its heart, about human nature in the face of adversity.
It deals with the history eloquently because it focuses primarily on human nature.
It does not vilify, nor does it raise Koresh to a messiah-like status. He’s a human being with a sense of things to come.
Ultimately, the author handled the topic with finesse.
It was an enjoyable read.
The only reservation I had-and it was minor-was that once the story deviated from historical fiction into the realm of the unfamiliar, it just sort of ended. I’m not going to spoil how precisely it ended. Just that it did, and it seemed abrupt.
But I think there’s something very telling about this ending. I think the book ending as it did is a testament to the fact that, while Koresh may have had a sense of the general design, he didn’t have all the answers. He wasn’t the silver bullet resolving a series of conundrums.
Maybe the protagonist’s reluctant faith in the prophecies of Koresh were wrong. Maybe they were right. There’s a lot of evidence to suggest either possibility, and the degree of uncertainty the book leaves us with resonates with me, as no story truly ends. We just decide which new beginning to close on.
But I wouldn’t complain if I saw a second book emerge in the next few years ;)
June 6, 2018
I was nine years old when the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas fell under siege by the ATF, and remember the portrait of David Koresh handed to us by the media, that of a heavily armed End of Days loony who used his position as a cult leader to molest young girls with the blessing of his brainwashed followers. As an adult, I was exposed to other sides of the story, and it became clear to me--and many others--that the ambush at Waco was actually an ill-conceived publicity stunt by an agency looking to salvage it's reputation after its previous disaster at Ruby Ridge. Koresh was a pedophile and an apocalypse nut, for sure, but his behavior didn't warrant the full force of the federal government.
A narrative account of what really went down during the standoff would make a compelling book on its own, but Jerry Gordon goes multiple steps further in this novel and asks: What if David Koresh and his apocalyptic visions were right? BREAKING THE WORLD is Gordon's answer to that question.
The book starts with a literal bang, as the first shots are fired in Waco, and follows a fictional young Branch Davidian named Cyrus through the standoff. Very early on, it becomes apparent this will NOT be a straight retelling of history, but instead, an audacious jumping off point for a new kind of post - apocalyptic coming-of-age tale.
Gordon balances action and character moments extremely well, and blends his research seamlessly into the story.
Highly recommended.
A narrative account of what really went down during the standoff would make a compelling book on its own, but Jerry Gordon goes multiple steps further in this novel and asks: What if David Koresh and his apocalyptic visions were right? BREAKING THE WORLD is Gordon's answer to that question.
The book starts with a literal bang, as the first shots are fired in Waco, and follows a fictional young Branch Davidian named Cyrus through the standoff. Very early on, it becomes apparent this will NOT be a straight retelling of history, but instead, an audacious jumping off point for a new kind of post - apocalyptic coming-of-age tale.
Gordon balances action and character moments extremely well, and blends his research seamlessly into the story.
Highly recommended.
April 20, 2018
3.0 Stars
This is an intense survival story that jumped into the action from the first page and never stops. The fast paced narrative, combined with the short chapters, made this book quite a page-turner.
Set in the midst of the 1993 FBI standoff in Waco, Texas, this novel offered a fictionalized account of this infamous historic moment. As someone less familiar with the event, I found myself less connected to the overall story. Readers with prior knowledge and interest of the incident will likely be more immersed in this piece of historical fiction.
Most of the horror in this novel comes from the threat surrounding the siege. Between that and the spreading plague, the civilian teenagers were stuck in an unpredictable and incredibly terrifying situation. Everything in this story felt possible, making this a good example of realistic horror.
This story was heavily focused on the action without a lot of focus on the characters. David Koresh was easily the most compelling character in this story. While I am more of plot driven reader, I still wanted more character development in order to understand the motivations of those involved.
This would be an excellent read for anyone with a particular interest in the infamous siege of the Davidians' compound, particularly those who enjoy fast-paced, action-driven narratives.
I receive a copy of this book from the publisher Apex Book Company.
This is an intense survival story that jumped into the action from the first page and never stops. The fast paced narrative, combined with the short chapters, made this book quite a page-turner.
Set in the midst of the 1993 FBI standoff in Waco, Texas, this novel offered a fictionalized account of this infamous historic moment. As someone less familiar with the event, I found myself less connected to the overall story. Readers with prior knowledge and interest of the incident will likely be more immersed in this piece of historical fiction.
Most of the horror in this novel comes from the threat surrounding the siege. Between that and the spreading plague, the civilian teenagers were stuck in an unpredictable and incredibly terrifying situation. Everything in this story felt possible, making this a good example of realistic horror.
This story was heavily focused on the action without a lot of focus on the characters. David Koresh was easily the most compelling character in this story. While I am more of plot driven reader, I still wanted more character development in order to understand the motivations of those involved.
This would be an excellent read for anyone with a particular interest in the infamous siege of the Davidians' compound, particularly those who enjoy fast-paced, action-driven narratives.
I receive a copy of this book from the publisher Apex Book Company.
May 30, 2018
I really want to read more about cults. I need to read more about cults, actually. This book is (I think) the first cult-related book I have really ever read. Most of my cult-learnin’ is from movies, shows, documentaries, and podcasts. So Breaking The World by Jerry Gordon was extremely cool for me to read. This book follows the story of David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians sect, who predicted the end of the world in 1993. Obviously the world never ended and this was just another cult. But what if he was indeed the final prophet and right all along? What if The Fallen really were coming to destroy humanity and the world? THAT’S the genius of Breaking The World.
This book reads like an action-packed, dystopian, horror, thriller combo. And while it is not required that you know what happened in the real life events during Waco, TX in 1993 when the FBI invaded the Branch Davidians compound, it does help so that way you can see just how wonderful a story Jerry Gordon was able to craft. This way you know what is his world and what was the real world.
I think this book will speak to a lot of different types of readers, especially those interested in cults, true crime, and horror. It spans a range of themes and I enjoyed every page of it! After reading this book, I want to read and learn more about Koresh for myself. I think this is a fascinating topic and Jerry Gordon did what I wish more would do (or that he would write more books like this) where someone puts a twist on some true crime stories! Such an intriguing book!
Thank you to the editor at Apex Publishing for advanced reading copies of this book in exchange for an honest review by the Night Worms (#nightworms on Twitter & Instagram)
This book reads like an action-packed, dystopian, horror, thriller combo. And while it is not required that you know what happened in the real life events during Waco, TX in 1993 when the FBI invaded the Branch Davidians compound, it does help so that way you can see just how wonderful a story Jerry Gordon was able to craft. This way you know what is his world and what was the real world.
I think this book will speak to a lot of different types of readers, especially those interested in cults, true crime, and horror. It spans a range of themes and I enjoyed every page of it! After reading this book, I want to read and learn more about Koresh for myself. I think this is a fascinating topic and Jerry Gordon did what I wish more would do (or that he would write more books like this) where someone puts a twist on some true crime stories! Such an intriguing book!
Thank you to the editor at Apex Publishing for advanced reading copies of this book in exchange for an honest review by the Night Worms (#nightworms on Twitter & Instagram)
August 1, 2018
Few things have gripped the American imagination like the Waco standoff in 1993. It’s the Area 51 of cult/government standoffs:)
Breaking the World doesn’t spend a whole lot of time relitigating the events. Instead, we experience them from the perspective of 15-year-old Cyrus. He’s in love with a girl, having some issues with her father, upset that his mother’s dragged him to Wacco, skeptical of David Karesh, and, oh yeah, being shot at by the FBI. In fact, they blow off a good chunk of his ear early on.
Because he’s inside the compound, dealing with the chaos there, Cyrus doesn’t get much perspective on what the FBI’s up to other than what he sees on television. He films witnesses and plans to smuggle the tape to the media so the outside world will know that the people inside are real and not enemies.
Honestly, if this had just been a straightforward account of the Waco fiasco, it would’ve been plenty exciting. But eventually, we learn that the president is Al Gore and the vice president is Bill Clinton, so this is an alternate timeline and things are about to unfold very differently.
To say anymore than that would be criminal.
Don’t let anyone spoil this book for you. Pick up a copy and read it. Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, ratcheting up the tension, and the pace is intense. You won’t be able to put this story down until its done and then you’ll demand a sequel, which we’ll hopefully get soon.
Breaking the World doesn’t spend a whole lot of time relitigating the events. Instead, we experience them from the perspective of 15-year-old Cyrus. He’s in love with a girl, having some issues with her father, upset that his mother’s dragged him to Wacco, skeptical of David Karesh, and, oh yeah, being shot at by the FBI. In fact, they blow off a good chunk of his ear early on.
Because he’s inside the compound, dealing with the chaos there, Cyrus doesn’t get much perspective on what the FBI’s up to other than what he sees on television. He films witnesses and plans to smuggle the tape to the media so the outside world will know that the people inside are real and not enemies.
Honestly, if this had just been a straightforward account of the Waco fiasco, it would’ve been plenty exciting. But eventually, we learn that the president is Al Gore and the vice president is Bill Clinton, so this is an alternate timeline and things are about to unfold very differently.
To say anymore than that would be criminal.
Don’t let anyone spoil this book for you. Pick up a copy and read it. Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, ratcheting up the tension, and the pace is intense. You won’t be able to put this story down until its done and then you’ll demand a sequel, which we’ll hopefully get soon.
May 29, 2018
I love cults and am a bit of a true crime buff. So a book that reimagines what went down at Mount Carmel in Waco, Texas during that famed and deadly standoff with the Branch Davidians is just irresistible!
The twist is that this narrative supposes that David Koresh’s apocalyptic predictions are real rather than the ramblings of a power-mad loon who thought God was speaking to him and just wanted to have sex with underage girls.
The book goes full throttle beginning to end, starting with the first siege on the camp in 1993 and only ramping up the action from there. The narrator is young Cyrus, who was dragged to Mount Carmel by his mom and doesn’t really believe in all the shenanigans of the church. Along with his best friend, Marshal and his girl, Rachel, the three of them have been plotting escape.
The interesting part is definitely seeing how their beliefs are tested and changed by the events that are going on. Can they believe what they are hearing from outside? What David and the other leaders are telling them? What they see on TV? What they know to be true about where they’ve been living? There are some interesting juxtapositions between faith and belief and getting stuck between that rock and hard place when they are confronted with what is occurring.
Unfortunately, I really did not connect with the narrator, Cyrus. He fell very flat for me and I could not see the situation through his eyes or feel for him. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right headspace to really get into this book, but the narration style really did not work for me.
How Cyrus told the story didn’t connect to the action; it didn’t drag me into the story and put me in his shoes. It was more as if he were watching it all happen and narrating the events from above in a slightly disinterested way. I never really got a feel for his character or who he really was. That disconnect constantly pulled me out of the story and made it much less powerful to read.
Similarly, the secondary characters never really felt real. I couldn't see or understand who they were as people because they weren't elaborated on or really given life. It seemed like most of them were there just to fill space because there is supposed to be a girl and a friend and the kid they make fun of, and a mom, and they felt like paper cutouts that would blow over if I sneezed.
I think this book perhaps would have worked better as a third person narrated tale than a first person one. But perhaps that is just my own personal issue!
The only part where I started getting excited about the book was right at the very end, twenty or thirty pages before it was over. The book turns into a very different type of story (I don’t want to give anything away so I’m being vague!) and I really started to enjoy the characters and their interactions once all the muck and extra fluff was out of the way. The main bunch really started coming into their own once there were fewer characters to focus on. But then the book was over! If there were to be a sequel of their continued adventures, I think I’d be on board for that.
I’d like to thank Apex Publishing for providing the Night Worms with advance copies of this book to read and review.
The twist is that this narrative supposes that David Koresh’s apocalyptic predictions are real rather than the ramblings of a power-mad loon who thought God was speaking to him and just wanted to have sex with underage girls.
The book goes full throttle beginning to end, starting with the first siege on the camp in 1993 and only ramping up the action from there. The narrator is young Cyrus, who was dragged to Mount Carmel by his mom and doesn’t really believe in all the shenanigans of the church. Along with his best friend, Marshal and his girl, Rachel, the three of them have been plotting escape.
The interesting part is definitely seeing how their beliefs are tested and changed by the events that are going on. Can they believe what they are hearing from outside? What David and the other leaders are telling them? What they see on TV? What they know to be true about where they’ve been living? There are some interesting juxtapositions between faith and belief and getting stuck between that rock and hard place when they are confronted with what is occurring.
Unfortunately, I really did not connect with the narrator, Cyrus. He fell very flat for me and I could not see the situation through his eyes or feel for him. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right headspace to really get into this book, but the narration style really did not work for me.
How Cyrus told the story didn’t connect to the action; it didn’t drag me into the story and put me in his shoes. It was more as if he were watching it all happen and narrating the events from above in a slightly disinterested way. I never really got a feel for his character or who he really was. That disconnect constantly pulled me out of the story and made it much less powerful to read.
Similarly, the secondary characters never really felt real. I couldn't see or understand who they were as people because they weren't elaborated on or really given life. It seemed like most of them were there just to fill space because there is supposed to be a girl and a friend and the kid they make fun of, and a mom, and they felt like paper cutouts that would blow over if I sneezed.
I think this book perhaps would have worked better as a third person narrated tale than a first person one. But perhaps that is just my own personal issue!
The only part where I started getting excited about the book was right at the very end, twenty or thirty pages before it was over. The book turns into a very different type of story (I don’t want to give anything away so I’m being vague!) and I really started to enjoy the characters and their interactions once all the muck and extra fluff was out of the way. The main bunch really started coming into their own once there were fewer characters to focus on. But then the book was over! If there were to be a sequel of their continued adventures, I think I’d be on board for that.
I’d like to thank Apex Publishing for providing the Night Worms with advance copies of this book to read and review.
November 29, 2018
Utterly loved this book! Magnificent pacing that starts strong and never lets up, with great tension and action, and then kicks it up into alternative history and apocalypse! Incredible that this is the author’s first book. Please keep ’em coming.
May 16, 2020
This was a good book. Starts with a shootout and ends with an apocalypse. A real page turner
*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.
*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.
May 10, 2019
I’d had this one on my radar for about a year and felt it was time for a read. I want to say most of us has heard of David Koresh and what happened in Waco, Texas! This is a great twist on an historical part of history!
In the world of Koresh he had told of the end times, and you were either a believer or a non-believer! The author expands on Koresh's Message by having his prophecies began to happen with an infection that starts to change the world’s population! The non-believers in his compound come to realize David might be the real deal! The End Of Times has begun! Thus starts a journey of survival! Enjoyed the new take on an apocalyptic holocaust!
In the world of Koresh he had told of the end times, and you were either a believer or a non-believer! The author expands on Koresh's Message by having his prophecies began to happen with an infection that starts to change the world’s population! The non-believers in his compound come to realize David might be the real deal! The End Of Times has begun! Thus starts a journey of survival! Enjoyed the new take on an apocalyptic holocaust!
June 8, 2018
Truly an interesting read! Jerry Gordon does a wonderful job of taking historical events that are well known or can be researched very easily and gives a telling that will surprise even those that are incredibly familiar with this event. The book begins with such intensity and just never lets go! Overall, I really enjoyed it, recommended for sure.
March 1, 2018
Full disclosure: I did get a free review copy from Apex. They did not pay for me to review the book.
I loved the in medias res opening, and the fact that there isn’t a second to pause.
The first half of the book revolves around exploring the standoff from the inside. It starts with a bang. Literally, as it opens with the ATF coming in hard (and guns blazing).
I didn’t know much about the Waco incident before reading the book, but Jerry did a lot of research. That unseen power of accuracy does come through the pages, even for me. "History is written by the winners," goes the saying. And whenever you get a glimpse of what *wasn't* recorded by, in the case, the mainstream media, when you get to see through the eyes of someone other than those writing the historical narrative - it's always fascinating.
There's always value in learning more than what's apparent (or what others want to make apparent). You may or may not agree with David Koresh's beliefs, but there's value in hearing it, or thinking about what could've happened on the other side of the compound's walls.
Jerry makes this insight highly entertaining, through the lens of genre fiction, and through the authentic voice of his characters.
My only problem was with the at times inconsistent voice of the narrator-protagonist. There are attempts, which I found great, when Cyrus is trying to explain (both to himself and to the audience) away the gaps in his knowledge — after all, he’s a teenager. This is why it jumps out at you when he suddenly doesn’t, but still uses a word or phrase, or just knows something, he shouldn’t know.
***
I also liked the fact it was written from a first person point of view. It creates a more intimate filter through which we explore the situation. By making Cyrus and his friends “a trinity of non-believers” Jerry makes a smart move in preserving his narrator’s perspective — so it doesn’t become the perspective of those within the compound — and at the same time going in as close as it’s possible.
I liked the way the differing perspectives are presented, too. However, this is one of the ways Cyrus gives away his authenticity a bit — I’d think making him more naive, and presenting the outside perspective through the FBI or the ATF, would’ve made this more believable. Cyrus may be a smart kid, but he’s just a kid and not an adult who would handle the situation like he does.
Then again, that would’ve forced the book to be more distant from its topic, and the tradeoff of the occasional off-sounding teenager works better than doing an encompassing narrative that includes the Feds.
David Koresh is an interesting figure, and Jerry went to lengths to preserve his character as close to the real one as possible. It was captivating to see him at the beginning of the novel versus at the end of it; and particularly being forced to accept his… “peculiarities” as matter-of-factly as we do.
It all builds up. And that’s what Jerry Gordon does really well:* keeping his neck-breaking pace of the opening action sequence throughout the standoff’s more introspective moments without a sense of slowing down or slugging to reach the next plot point.
***
When the reader gets to the point where he feels comfortable with the story, Jerry twists it around and we’re left with catching up to him again. (At which point he’s making another twist.)
I loved this aspect of the book. It’s part of his sense of pacing that Jerry knows when a twist will revigorate the reader’s attention.
(And I’m not easy to impress. As a writer myself and, more importantly, as a reader of fiction I can smell a twist a mile away. Yet throughout Breaking the World I was left dumbfounded for a second time and time again — of course in retrospect it all makes sense, but when it’s revealed: it’s magic.)
The twists are also the beats where Jerry can progress deeper into his genre: from a thriller it goes on to… well, I’m not going to spoil it for you. Trust me: you won't regret reading it.
***
This multi-faceted progression, from one atmosphere to another, from one perspective to another, from one story beat to another, is what makes this book such a captivating read.
And then it just ends.
It’s not easy to do a cliffhanger, not any more at least. Jerry still pulls it off, and I was left with the urge to suspect something was wrong with my copy. “There must be more,” I thought. And I was right: there is…
… in the next book. And that’s good storytelling. I didn’t care for the Waco incident before; heck, I didn’t even know about it! And now I positively can not wait to get back to Cyrus’ world.
I recommend buying the book. And I'm fair sure that's the only one I need to recommend, because you'll want to read the ones after this, too.
I loved the in medias res opening, and the fact that there isn’t a second to pause.
The first half of the book revolves around exploring the standoff from the inside. It starts with a bang. Literally, as it opens with the ATF coming in hard (and guns blazing).
I didn’t know much about the Waco incident before reading the book, but Jerry did a lot of research. That unseen power of accuracy does come through the pages, even for me. "History is written by the winners," goes the saying. And whenever you get a glimpse of what *wasn't* recorded by, in the case, the mainstream media, when you get to see through the eyes of someone other than those writing the historical narrative - it's always fascinating.
There's always value in learning more than what's apparent (or what others want to make apparent). You may or may not agree with David Koresh's beliefs, but there's value in hearing it, or thinking about what could've happened on the other side of the compound's walls.
Jerry makes this insight highly entertaining, through the lens of genre fiction, and through the authentic voice of his characters.
My only problem was with the at times inconsistent voice of the narrator-protagonist. There are attempts, which I found great, when Cyrus is trying to explain (both to himself and to the audience) away the gaps in his knowledge — after all, he’s a teenager. This is why it jumps out at you when he suddenly doesn’t, but still uses a word or phrase, or just knows something, he shouldn’t know.
***
I also liked the fact it was written from a first person point of view. It creates a more intimate filter through which we explore the situation. By making Cyrus and his friends “a trinity of non-believers” Jerry makes a smart move in preserving his narrator’s perspective — so it doesn’t become the perspective of those within the compound — and at the same time going in as close as it’s possible.
I liked the way the differing perspectives are presented, too. However, this is one of the ways Cyrus gives away his authenticity a bit — I’d think making him more naive, and presenting the outside perspective through the FBI or the ATF, would’ve made this more believable. Cyrus may be a smart kid, but he’s just a kid and not an adult who would handle the situation like he does.
Then again, that would’ve forced the book to be more distant from its topic, and the tradeoff of the occasional off-sounding teenager works better than doing an encompassing narrative that includes the Feds.
David Koresh is an interesting figure, and Jerry went to lengths to preserve his character as close to the real one as possible. It was captivating to see him at the beginning of the novel versus at the end of it; and particularly being forced to accept his… “peculiarities” as matter-of-factly as we do.
It all builds up. And that’s what Jerry Gordon does really well:* keeping his neck-breaking pace of the opening action sequence throughout the standoff’s more introspective moments without a sense of slowing down or slugging to reach the next plot point.
***
When the reader gets to the point where he feels comfortable with the story, Jerry twists it around and we’re left with catching up to him again. (At which point he’s making another twist.)
I loved this aspect of the book. It’s part of his sense of pacing that Jerry knows when a twist will revigorate the reader’s attention.
(And I’m not easy to impress. As a writer myself and, more importantly, as a reader of fiction I can smell a twist a mile away. Yet throughout Breaking the World I was left dumbfounded for a second time and time again — of course in retrospect it all makes sense, but when it’s revealed: it’s magic.)
The twists are also the beats where Jerry can progress deeper into his genre: from a thriller it goes on to… well, I’m not going to spoil it for you. Trust me: you won't regret reading it.
***
This multi-faceted progression, from one atmosphere to another, from one perspective to another, from one story beat to another, is what makes this book such a captivating read.
And then it just ends.
It’s not easy to do a cliffhanger, not any more at least. Jerry still pulls it off, and I was left with the urge to suspect something was wrong with my copy. “There must be more,” I thought. And I was right: there is…
… in the next book. And that’s good storytelling. I didn’t care for the Waco incident before; heck, I didn’t even know about it! And now I positively can not wait to get back to Cyrus’ world.
I recommend buying the book. And I'm fair sure that's the only one I need to recommend, because you'll want to read the ones after this, too.
May 5, 2018
I watched the events in Waco unfold daily on CNN 25 years ago. My questions then were, how could a person allow someone to manipulate the way Koresh had done to the members of his Branch Davidian Church, and why in the world do you need tanks to serve a warrant!!
Breaking the World tells the story of what if Koresh was right and the Seals were being broken. That is the struggle that Cyrus must deal with. He came to Waco with his mother who becomes one of David's wives. Cyrus is a non-believer and has plans to escape the church and start a new life as soon as possible. Problem is it appears Koresh's prophecies just might be coming true.
This fictional account of the longest standoff in history makes you ask What If?
Breaking the World tells the story of what if Koresh was right and the Seals were being broken. That is the struggle that Cyrus must deal with. He came to Waco with his mother who becomes one of David's wives. Cyrus is a non-believer and has plans to escape the church and start a new life as soon as possible. Problem is it appears Koresh's prophecies just might be coming true.
This fictional account of the longest standoff in history makes you ask What If?
December 22, 2020
Thank you Apex Books for providing the Night Worms free copies of Breaking the World in exchange for honest reviews!
Wow! I loved this book. I have a slight fascination with cults so this book drew me in right away. If you're interested in cults, David Koresh or the standoff that went down in Waco, Texas in 1993, this is a great book. It's basically an alternative history. It was a lot of fun!
Wow! I loved this book. I have a slight fascination with cults so this book drew me in right away. If you're interested in cults, David Koresh or the standoff that went down in Waco, Texas in 1993, this is a great book. It's basically an alternative history. It was a lot of fun!
April 30, 2019
Amazing
August 29, 2019
***NOTE*** This ebook was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.***NOTE***
This book starts off right in the middle of the action. Set during the siege in Waco, TX, we follow Cyrus - a teenager brought into the Branch Davidian compound by his mother - as he is trying to survive both the cult and the various government agencies. Cyrus and his 2 best friends, Marshal and Rachel, don't believe the teachings of David Koresh and had been planning to escape the compound; but then everything went to hell. From the first page, bullets are flying as the ATF tries to break into the compound.
The major twist happens when we find out David Koresh was right. From there, things go from bad to holy crap crazy worse.
The book is an adrenaline packed thrill ride, and I highly recommend this to any horror fan.
The only reason that it wasn't 5 stars for me was because it doesn't sit well with me that David Koresh was correct about anything - even though it is obviously an alternate universe, and things veer away from what really happened pretty quickly.
I think that if it was a straight up retelling of Waco, I'd have been there with 5 stars.
If it was a fictional cult and siege, I'd have been there with 5 stars.
However, it was an excellent story, and I really hope that there is a sequel soon, because I am chomping at the bit to find out what happens next.
This book starts off right in the middle of the action. Set during the siege in Waco, TX, we follow Cyrus - a teenager brought into the Branch Davidian compound by his mother - as he is trying to survive both the cult and the various government agencies. Cyrus and his 2 best friends, Marshal and Rachel, don't believe the teachings of David Koresh and had been planning to escape the compound; but then everything went to hell. From the first page, bullets are flying as the ATF tries to break into the compound.
The major twist happens when we find out David Koresh was right. From there, things go from bad to holy crap crazy worse.
The book is an adrenaline packed thrill ride, and I highly recommend this to any horror fan.
The only reason that it wasn't 5 stars for me was because it doesn't sit well with me that David Koresh was correct about anything - even though it is obviously an alternate universe, and things veer away from what really happened pretty quickly.
I think that if it was a straight up retelling of Waco, I'd have been there with 5 stars.
If it was a fictional cult and siege, I'd have been there with 5 stars.
However, it was an excellent story, and I really hope that there is a sequel soon, because I am chomping at the bit to find out what happens next.
September 30, 2019
Are Koresh’s predictions of the End of Days coming to fruition? How will this affect the outcome of the standoff and Cyrus’s escape plan?
A fictional inside look at the Branch Dividian standoff takes a left turn into the supernatural. A wild ride of manipulation, loyalty, and desperation.
Cyrus is a very good character. He’s stuck between this newfound attention from Koresh, family ties to his mother, and loyalty to his two best friends. And he knows in his heart that Koresh’s path will only lead to more violence. He’s stuck trying to find the best way out of this no win situation.
An imaginative retelling of an event that sticks in the minds of all Americans and blended with a scary “what if…”
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2019/09/30/br...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
A fictional inside look at the Branch Dividian standoff takes a left turn into the supernatural. A wild ride of manipulation, loyalty, and desperation.
Cyrus is a very good character. He’s stuck between this newfound attention from Koresh, family ties to his mother, and loyalty to his two best friends. And he knows in his heart that Koresh’s path will only lead to more violence. He’s stuck trying to find the best way out of this no win situation.
An imaginative retelling of an event that sticks in the minds of all Americans and blended with a scary “what if…”
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2019/09/30/br...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
October 10, 2018
Breaking the World opens with a gunfight and grows increasingly more intense from there. Exploring cult leaders, religious followers, and government intervention, this book entertains and surprises throughout. I hope to see more of the characters left behind in this dramatic, thrilling, and horrifying story.
July 19, 2018
I mean, it's like... well, honestly I'm kind of at a loss for words here. This one is good. Better than it seemed like it had any right to be.
I was looking for something different, strange, and this is that too. I will say too that I grew up in a cult family and so I was a little hesitant about this book because of my history. Those days are over for me now, a different life left behind, but who wants reminders of past trauma?
Anyhow, to the point of this being a review: the characters are all relatable, even David Koresh, who is so often portrayed as a wild villain who killed his family and followers rather than being brought to American Justice. My own thoughts on our fucked justice system aside, this book completely sidestepped that ending and instead shows us a Koresh who was Right.
I enjoyed reading the story from the view of the main character, a young adult trying to get out of the cult and live apart with his friends. And through the course of the story, finding out that there was a Reason they were together in that compound, that they have a Purpose beyond just escape.
It's bizarre, it's fun, and frightening, but somehow Jerry Gordon also made it Real. Despite the reimagined plot twist. My only complaint is that why did it have to end?
I was looking for something different, strange, and this is that too. I will say too that I grew up in a cult family and so I was a little hesitant about this book because of my history. Those days are over for me now, a different life left behind, but who wants reminders of past trauma?
Anyhow, to the point of this being a review: the characters are all relatable, even David Koresh, who is so often portrayed as a wild villain who killed his family and followers rather than being brought to American Justice. My own thoughts on our fucked justice system aside, this book completely sidestepped that ending and instead shows us a Koresh who was Right.
I enjoyed reading the story from the view of the main character, a young adult trying to get out of the cult and live apart with his friends. And through the course of the story, finding out that there was a Reason they were together in that compound, that they have a Purpose beyond just escape.
It's bizarre, it's fun, and frightening, but somehow Jerry Gordon also made it Real. Despite the reimagined plot twist. My only complaint is that why did it have to end?
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