This debut novel gives readers another futuristic scenario that is not exactly rosy. Mary lives in a small village run by the Sisterhood and protected by the Guardians. Outside of the village are the Unconsecrated, once living beings who have been infected and are now zombie-like in their appearance and demeanor. Zombies aside, this book is more about the power of love than the need to survive zombies. Mary is betrothed to one man but in love with his brother, Travis. The Sisterhood inform Mary that she must fulfill the betrothal for the good of the village. Before the official ceremony can take placed, though, the Unconsecrated overrun Mary's village. Only a handful of the residents manage to escape along with Mary. Now, they must find a new place to live, one without Unconsecrated threat.
This is a carefully crafted story that moves quite deliberately and slowly, building suspense nicely. Love, family, loss, societal ills: they are all core to the story.
It is nice to be home, but I already miss my family. It was lovely to spend time with my sister and her firt grandchild. And the weather was perfect, too. I noticed President Obama was out in the same neck of the woods, too. Not a bad place to have a town hall meeting.