Children of the Sun

I would give this book ten stars if I could.
I love a book involving a cult, and this was no different. Beth sets the scene in a scarily beautiful way… I was drawn into the thick of Atlas, and the parts told by Root, who I believed was a young boy, really melted my heart. Each character held their own in the story and they all made me want to carry on reading. It’s incredibly clever how it all pulls together at the end and not in the way you’re expecting. The last section was heartbreakingly perfect, sensational in fact.

This was an incredible read, there is something so fascinating and yet so chilling about a cult and the unknown within it, that I love reading about them. This book was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters that I really came to care about. I loved it.

Incredibly fortunate to read this prior to publication thanks to NetGalley, I literally couldn't wait until May to read this stunning book so here's my thoughts early.
I'm must also confess to being a massive Beth Lewis fan, as I simply love her earlier work. So it's little surprise that I love Children of the Sun, but I was surprised by just how I do love this book.
The story is told from different perspectives, which draws you into the core of the book. The intriguing, varied characters continue to forge your interest, as the plot evolves and moves in front of you, almost daring you to guess the motives, dangers and outcome. I absolutely failed to guess any of these, which I loved and the ending is a superb culmination of a wonderful novel. The closing fifth of the book is a complete joy, with the final paragraph bring the story closer to the heart. A work of beauty from such a skilled author.

I opened this book expecting one story and got something entirely different and it was all the better for it. Exciting, engaging, inspiring and above all beautifully written, this is a cross genre treat

Those of us who the 1980s have an inbuilt distrust of seemingly utopian cult. So it's no surprise that when James Morrow leaves New York to investigate an off-grid group in the Adirondack Mountains, this take a sinister turn.

A well written and engaging read Children of the Sun keeps you guessing.

It was with great anticipation that I approached Beth Lewis's latest character driven offering, it is utterly gripping, beautifully written, superbly plotted, dark and deeply unsettling, it speaks of having to confront the most challenging of circumstances a person can find themselves in, the bottomless pit of loss, grief, desperation, belief, and of love. It plunges the reader into a subject that gives me the chills and which I find creepy, the nature of cults, I simply cannot imagine myself in any circumstances where I would even entertain the idea of joining a cult, so I am fascinated by those that do. In this non-linear narrative, that shifts from past and present, where nothing is as it appears, it is the 198Os in upstate New York.

Atlas is a organised and hidden community of a few hundred people living below the radar in the woods of the Adirondack Mountains. Under the leadership of Sol, this group of those that are broken are looking for answers, escaping into another type of life, they are planning and looking forward to what they are worked towards, the opening of the Golden Door, their final ceremony. We follow the different threads and characters that go on to interconnect, sceptical James Morrow, a traumatised reporter with his own backstory, wants to establish his reputation by investigating the cult. He obtains access to the cult that claims that people can leave if they want, on the premise he will be writing, informing and publicising the group to the outside world. With unreliable narrators, there are children seen as gods, raising the question what is their role, and we have Eve who has Sol in her sights, what lies behind his public persona? How will it all end?

Lewis writes a captivating novel that kept my attention from beginning to end, packed with suspense and tension, and some surprising twists along the way. As James gets closer to the cult, he begins to understand and relate to the members, with their own specific perspectives, whose lives had hit rock bottom. This is a intelligent, thought provoking, moving and shocking read, of the madness of cults, with skilfully drawn characters, it gives some answers as to what kind of people might find themselves drawn to cults. It is so good that I cannot recommend it highly enough! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

How far would you go for a second chance?

The year is 1982. The place is somewhere in the Adirondack Mountains. Reporter James Morrow secures an invitation to a secret community, founded by a charismatic man called Sol. More than 300 followers are awaiting the sun ellipse so they can step through the Golden Door, where they will be given a second chance and their past decisions never ended in tragedy.

James can relate. He lost his boyfriend a year ago. That's also partly why he is here. He is looking for a woman called Maria, who he holds responsible for his boyfriend's death. But this is one tight-knit community and nobody is talking. Or James is asking the wrong questions. There are so many that need answers too. Why are a few children treated like they're little gods, with their own special table, and their own special food? Why does the rest of the community not talk to them, or even look at them? Why are there iron strips that give off sparks of electricity embedded in the earth? What is behind the gates of Sol's private sanctuary?

Honestly, I saw the world "cult" and that was enough for me to decide I desperately wanted to read this new Beth Lewis book. Is this a cult though? Sol is first and foremost a scientist. He claims he has found a way to open a door between alternate realities. So while in this reality your child, for instance, has died because of something you did/said/didn't do/didn't say, they are very much still alive in the alternate reality where you opted for another decision. Your second chance at doing the right thing is just around the corner. Each and every one of Sol's member has a story to tell. One moment in time where they made the wrong decision that ended in tragedy and changed their lives forever. I'm sure many of us can relate. So if given the opportunity to step through the door and discover that alternate life ... what would you do?

The reader also meets Root. They are one of the special children and through their eyes you get a little bit of a feel for what goes on in the commune. I use they/them because Root's gender is indeterminable. Root is definitely special, a character to warm your heart from the second you meet them. Root is part of a group of children called the sunbeams and the sunbeams are the most important thing as they are the ones who will open that Golden Door. Just like James, you can never really shake off the feeling that Root and his pals just might be in danger, though.

Lastly, there is Eve. She is looking for the place where the commune used to be. She is desperate to find Sol, to vent her anger, maybe even to kill him. As interesting as her search for clues was, it did always leave me feeling a bit miffed at having to leave the camp, where James and Root were, behind. I was far more fascinated by what was happening there. Far more involved in the characters, and their fate.

The characterisation in this novel is just of a completely different level.Their pain and grief is almost palpable. There were moments where I could feel the tears stinging behind my eyes. The faith they have in Sol is hard to fathom, as it always is where cults are concerned. Why are they so blindly following a man who is so blatantly obviously going to get them killed?

Just when you think you've read all you can about cults, along comes Beth Lewis and turns the whole thing on its head.'Children of the Sun' is so incredibly cleverly plotted and while I had an inkling as to how some things were connected, it didn't matter at all. The setting is brilliant, the characters will just pull you into the story and not let go. Sometimes a chilling tale, but always utterly absorbing and I found it truly hard to put this novel down because I wanted to know what happened to these 300 something damaged souls.

'Children of the Sun' is most definitely another contender for my book of the year. It's a story about belief, and faith, and grief, and whatever the thing is that will guide us through the dark times to find the light again. I devoured it, I loved it, and I definitely recommend it.

Beth Lewis is such an exciting writer. The setting and characters will stay with me for a long time.

Well plotted, gripping and terrifiying at times. A book about a cult, different characters and voices.
The author is a talented storyteller and delivers a brilliant story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine