AMERICAN RAPTURE by C.J. Leede – Review

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

American Rapture by C.J. Leede
Published by Tor Nightfire on October 15 2024
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A young girl navigates a terrifying world in this dangerous and bloody story, full of thrilling adventure and unforgettable characters.

“HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE LAST MOMENTS BEFORE THE WORLD ENDS:

You won’t.”

Spoiler ahead for dog lovers.

I’ve been lucky enough to read a handful of exceptional books this year, and I’m happy to say that American Rapture has joined the ranks of my 2024 favorites. This is a thrilling, scary, thought provoking, heartfelt and heartbreaking story, seen through the eyes of a sheltered teenage girl whose life changes when everything she’s been brought up to believe is shattered as a killer flu makes its way through the Midwest. American Rapture isn’t for the faint of heart, though, as it contains a lot of graphic violence—and did I mention the heartbreak? I typically give trigger warnings in my reviews for dog deaths, and I’m afraid I have to include one here, so dog lovers beware. Although don’t let that stop you from reading the book. I will kick and scream and protest Barghest’s death, but I wholeheartedly love this book anyway.

Sophie is a fifteen-year-old girl who has been raised by ultra strict parents in the Catholic faith, homeschooled most of her life and sheltered from social media, news and the normal things kids her age do. Her twin brother Noah was sent away five years earlier after he was caught reading a gay magazine, and now Sophie can only talk to him on the phone occasionally. She attends a private Catholic high school which focuses on Bible studies and Catholic guilt rather than real world subjects, so even though she’s heard rumblings about a new flu virus that’s sweeping the Midwest, she doesn’t know enough about it to be scared.

But when the flu unexpectedly arrives in her own home, Sophie finds herself running for her life, and so begins a fevered apocalyptic road trip, where the only way to survive is to find people you can trust. With the help of Maro, a cop with a fierce sense of duty and a heart of gold, Ben, a book loving boy who is definitely off limits, Helen and Cleo, two women they meet in a shelter, and a large black dog named Barghest, Sophie sets out to escape the horrors around her and find her brother Noah.

This is a fast-paced, heart-pounding story that doesn’t ever let up. There are some quieter, reflective moments as Sophie tries to come to terms with her new life, but for the most part the story flies by, and it’s one of those books that’s hard to put down once you start reading. Also, props to C.J. Leede for writing a completely different story than Maeve Fly, her last book (which I also loved). American Rapture is very different, but her themes and ideas are just as hard hitting.

The story is told through Sophie’s point of view, and we learn early on that she’s had an almost cult-like upbringing, cut off from the real world in every way until recently, when her parents agreed to let her attend high school. It’s here she meets Ben, a kind-hearted boy who introduces her to Jean M. Auel and plays a big part in Sophie’s sexual awakening (anyone who has read Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear series will know exactly what I’m talking about!). Her one small freedom is visiting the library every week, and I loved the way the author incorporates the “Dummies” books she reads into the survival parts of the story. Sophie’s story arc is shocking, not only because she’s thrust into a normal world she knows nothing about—sex, boys and the fact that there are terrible, hateful people out there—but that the flu and a radical group of religious zealots are trying to end it. Her parents have convinced her that God and the devil are always watching and judging her, but I loved the way her worldview changes as she meets new people with different ideas.

But let’s talk more about the characters, who without a doubt pushed this book in the “unforgettable” category for me. Leede does a fantastic job of capturing the emotional yearning of first love. For Sophie, who has never been allowed to access those feelings before, she’s overwhelmed with emotions that are new to her. And while Sophie and Ben were very sweet together, it was Maro’s and Sophie’s relationship that really got to me. Maro was probably my favorite character in the story (other than Barghest), and Leede brilliantly captured so many moments of unspoken longing between the two. I won’t say any more, other than to assure you that their relationship is one of trust and friendship and never crosses that line.

Then there’s Barghest, the dog Maro and Sophie rescue and take with them on their crazy road trip. I absolutely loved the connection between Sophie and Barghest, which makes what happens late in the story even harder to swallow. And although Sophie’s brother Noah is more of an off-page character, his presence is always there. He’s the reason she keeps going, despite all the pain and suffering she has to endure, and that driving force not only propelled the story forward, but gave the reader something to hope for.

Leede doesn’t shy away from topics like religious oppression and hate, which may seem extreme to some readers, but I found her ideas worked perfectly for this “end of the world” story. She doesn’t shy away from heartbreaking moments either, and yes I cried more than once (damn you, C.J.!). Despite the pain and loss along the way, though, I thought the ending was just right. American Rapture is one of the best horror stories I’ve read this year and should not be missed.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.