Candle in the Wind by Kim Baccellia

Candle in the Wind by Kim Baccellia
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

What if you discovered everything you’ve been taught is a lie? For most of her life, seventeen-year-old Espie Hernandez’s world revolved around the Branch of Thomas, a cult-like haven in what’s left of a war-ravaged America. Their ruler, Reverent Father, keeps them safe from the Others, those outside the compound who wish to harm them. Espie questions what she’s been taught and finds herself banished from the compound. She’s thrust into the harsh world beyond their walls with the mission to prove the Others actually have a plot against them. When tensions escalate, Espie must figure out who to trust before everything she loves is torn apart.

This book kept me enthralled from the first page. Espie and her sister have been raised to believe in the message of their Reverant Father and have been shielded from the Outsiders by their life in a secluded compound after a conflict that left their group fearful for their lives. There is a lot of fear built up in her over that outside world.

Once the questions start, though, so does the action. Espie starts to realize that the message she had heard her whole life is changing…and with those changes comes a disenchantment.

I admired Espie and the author did a good job in capturing the dichotomy in her feelings and emotions as more and more of the truth is revealed. This dichotomy leads to a powerful tension throughout the book as Espie tries to discover the truth.

And the action… it had me turning the pages as fast as I could read in an attempt to find out what happens. I was really caught up in the action. I could so see this on Netflix…maybe a bit expanded because the whole of the action seems to take place in just a few weeks.

I hope there’s a follow up book to this one. I enjoyed the ending but was left with so many questions that I hope will be answered. Thanks for the read.