“But that was the way with boys. Always getting things that made them better -- pants with pockets, tools for building -- while girls received adornments, things to make us appear better to others.”
A biblical level drought has settled over a small town in Peaches California. There have not been rains of any kind in a very long time and all the crops that used to make the town a beautiful place full of raisin crops, have since dried up and died. Lacey May and her mother have found refuge in Pastor Vern's church. Glitter falls from the rafters when God is pleased with them and the congregation takes comfort in the lack of rain because pastor vern seems to know that the rains will come, if everyone completes their secret assignments. Lacey May finds herself alone, when her mother is banished from the congregation, due to inexcusable sin. Her life is turned upside down in the wake of her mother's exile as she finds herself alone and having to carry out a secret assignment that makes her question everything she ever believed of her faith and of Pastor Vern.
I am a SUCKER for books about cults. There is a fascination for me in the dynamics between the followers and the cult leader's over reach of power and control. I feel like God Shot wet my "cult-fascination-whistle" but I don't think that describing this as a book all about a cult is accurate. It is more about the grappling of the main character's faith in the midst of spiritual and physical abuse from the members and the pastor of the church. God Shot walked a balancing act of being plot driven and character driven. In the end I felt the book ended up being more character driven than plot driven! If you have been reading my reviews for any amount of time, you know that is a win for me!
I read this book so quickly. I came in thinking I was in for one type of story and ended up with something completely different. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the depth of the characters, the unique plot and the strong sense of place met the nature elements of the drought to create such an interesting read. Bieker really understands balance and restraint in her storytelling. Every element of this book felt blended together so perfectly and complimented the tone and pacing of the story so well. I am so excited to read more from this author. This was her debut novel and it feels like a pretty lofty introduction to what Bieker is capable of.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Content warning: sexual assault, spiritual abuse, alcoholism,
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