The Book of David

By: Kate L. Mary

Narrated by: Jelyne Helms

Neglected by her mother, abused by her stepfather, and trapped in an oppressive cult, Willow Sands has lived the past three years with the shadow of her 15th birthday hanging over her. That was the day her mother handed her over to David, the son of their leader, promising her a future even more bleak than she’d ever imagined. Now, with her 18th birthday and the day of her wedding fast approaching, she’s almost come to accept her fate.

Hope was the last thing Willow expected to feel this close to her wedding, but that’s exactly what she finds in Jared. The more time she spends with him, the more haunted she becomes by the freedom she let slip through her fingers all those years ago. She knows if she wants a real future she’ll have to break free of the crushing grip the cult has on her, and the more she gets to know Jared, the more determined she becomes to gain her freedom once and for all.

Trigger Warning: This book deals with the subject of rape and may be disturbing to some listeners.

©2019 Kate L. Mary (P)2019 Kate L. Mary

The Story of Willow

This author has written numerous books in various genres that have been favorably received. My understanding is that this stand-alone is significantly different than many of her previous books, and I can't help but wonder why she chose to write it. This book covers three years in the life of a young woman, Willow, living in a religious cult on a secure compound. She is there because her mother brought her there as a child, not from any desire on her own part. The book starts with Willow's rape, at age fifteen, by the fiancé chosen for her by the cult's leader, David. According to cult law, a girl is betrothed and raped at age fifteen and then left, more or less alone, until her eighteenth birthday when she is married to her rapist, all of this conveniently clothed in cult nonsense about it being the will of God according to David. During these three years of Willow's life, we learn of her well-deserved fear and hatred of both her fiancé and her abusive step-father and the complete indifference of her mother. Nearing her eighteenth birthday she finds an unlikely friendship, and then love, with Jared, a young man also raised in the cult. The descriptions of Willow's misery and deprivation are vivid, and I suppose the book stands as a reminder of the dangers inherent in personality-driven worship of anyone, religious leader or otherwise. There's a happy ending, of sorts, but the book makes it clear that the culture of the cult survives. I finished the book with neither that warm glow usually found at the end of a good romance nor the sense of having had my eyes opened wide that I found at the end of Educated, by Tara Westover. In essence, I was just happy to reach the end of a rather discomforting book. The narration was adequate. I requested and received a copy of this audiobook from the author and have voluntarily left this review.

Great story!!!

The story was told very well and doesn’t give gritty details that aren’t needed. The narration was good too. I didn’t really know what to except with it and was pleasantly surprised! Definitely worth a credit!!!

Enjoyable listen

I enjoyed listening to this book. It is a story of two young people trying to escape from a religious cult. Maybe a bit longer than it needed to be, but still a good listen.

Excellent Story, Excellent Narration

Jelyne does an excellent job of narrating this fine work of Kate. It is very well read and Jelyne keeps you engaged.

Resilience and Strength of a Strong Young Woman

I studied cults in Religious Studies and this was pitch perfect for the isolation, child brides and abuses that abound with leaders who cannot be questioned. The relationships throughout the story are heartbreaking, well developed and very human. The dysfunctional aspects of normal people who are taken in by charismatic leaders is solid. I found myself holding my breath at times. “Marital” rape and trauma are handled truthfully. The resilience and strength of one young Woman in spite of incredible odds was inspiring.

The Narrator was very good and I enjoyed her talents very much!

**I received a free copy of this book in lieu of an honest review