Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Gated by Amy Christine Parker - Review

The Gated community is a place of peace and harmony, where the members live serenely - on the outside. However, there is something dark and sinister lurking behind the gates. Lyla and her family have followed their leader, Pioneer, since joining the community. Pioneer appears to be a charismatic man who only wants the best for all his members. But after Lyla meets Cody, an outsider, she starts having doubts. Does Pioneer truly care for the community or is he driven by more selfish motives?

This novel sent chills down my spine. Reading about life in a cult-like atmosphere makes one realise that cults have just as much power over their members today as they did in the past. People like Pioneer still exist and manipulate without batting an eye. The scariest part is that Pioneer is an ordinary man. He's not a horror movie monster with fangs. He could be anyone walking down the street. And that is what's so unsettling and disturbing. Pioneer's actions and psychological games are so atrocious that 'Gated' felt like a horror movie.

Cults are fascinating because it makes you wonder how one person can have so much influence on others. That people can follow someone so blindly, putting all their trust in them. I mean, the leader is human just like them, so how can he or she overpower them to the point where they will jump into a burning flame if that person told them it could save their lives? They exploit people's heartbreak and weaknesses and lure them into a dark web from which they are held captive. And they often quote the bible as a way of making people trust them. It is a part of their manipulation. The tactics of cult leaders are similar to the devil's. He knows everyone's weaknesses and preys on them, using smooth talk to lure people in.

Gated is a suspense-filled psychological thriller that is nail-biting and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's also an examination of good and evil and the line between the two. Is it just black and white, or are there grey areas in between?

Comments

Poem by @writing_15_

Photo source: writing_15_ I'd like to present a poem written by a friend of mine. She's fifteen years old and a very talented writer. You guys can check out her Instagram . Writing_15_ also has a new blog where she posts her poetry, book reviews and short stories. I watched you fade away, slowly. Then all at once. Like I watched the petals of a flower, fall to the ground. Parts of you fell away faster than others. Your sense of humour stayed, but your kindness fell of the stem. You aren’t the same person you once were. Your petals continue to fall. You are slowly changing into nothing but a stem. The water you need is no longer available, like the attention you no longer receive. Your petals have fallen to the ground, leaving nothing but a stalk. You have changed, leaving nothing but a stranger. ...

Wit Heinings(An Afrikaans Short Story)

Die trein kaartjie. Dis al waaraan sy kan dink. Die trein kaartjie; dis haar sleutel tot vryheid. Tot asemhaling, ja dit sal haar longe weer lug laat proe. Binne haar handsak – die glinsterende bottelgroen een wat sy verafsku, die een wat hy vir haar as geskenk vir hulle eerste huweliksherdenking gegee het (nie noodwendig oor die kleur, of die gehalte, of die prys nie, maar eerder oor die sentiment wat daaragter skuil) – tussen die voue, lê die vierkantige papiertjie. Sy vroetel met haar vingers binne in die bottelgroen mond, haar hand Jona en die 'geliefkoosde' handsak die vis. Uiteindelik voel sy die kaartjie– dit was darem nie ingesluk en weggevoer nie. En blaas saggies uit. Die agterkant van haar skedel raak aan die koel muur. Daar's niemand langs haar nie. Haar oë gaan toe en prentjiemooi beelde van 'n paradys neem haar verstand oor. Alleen lê sy op 'n goue strand, geniet die ligte somer briesie oor haar vel. Sal iemand haar as mal beskou indien sy nou '...

A Quiet Kind of Thunder - Sara Barnard - Review

Steffi has anxiety and is selectively mute. She knows basic sign language and is assigned to look after Rhys. He can't hear, but he listens and he and Steffi communicate in their own silent way. They navigate the world with a quiet power and show that a whisper can be louder than a shout. A Quiet Kind of Thunder left a mark on my heart. I can't even explain how much I enjoyed this book! The characters are so memorable and multilayered. Steffi and Rhys are an endearing pair and I love how they communicate with each other. Their relationship isn't perfect. It's messy and full of ups and downs, but that's what makes them real and relatable. There might be a barrier between them, but they work through it. This novel is beautiful, not only because of the love story, but also because of the relationships between the main characters and their families. This book shows that being gentle isn't a weakness and introverts can thrive in this world.

Rowena Writes

Search This Blog