After We Were Stolen, by Brooke Beyfuss

After We Were Stolen by Brooke Beyfuss

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantastical, tragic…. horrifying! These were the thoughts that weighed down my heart and my mind as I sat down to write this review. I mourned right along with Avery and Cole as they each recalled that fateful night – no spoilers here. I went into this story blind, and the impact was that much greater. Fans of The Walking Dead will recognize similar themes and tropes. (I had to stop watching that series because the violence escalated beyond endurance for me – another ratings gimmick, in my opinion.)



Oh, the horrors that humanity inflicts on itself. I can honestly say that I am down in the dumps after having read this well written novel. This story just about broke my heart: I’m sure atrocities like this happen on the regular. Why are we humans so vicious and inhumane? Makes you lose all hope for us.

. . . . . . .

During the first months of COVID, I switched off from television, the news and exposure to too much media. Previous to COVID, I had already become disenchanted with hyped up newscasts and television programming in general. Therefore, I identified a fair bit with how Avery and Cole must have felt once they became inundated with the repetitive and strident news flashes from the many forms of media during the “after” phase of their lives. Usually, when I am forced to watch news feeds while sitting in a waiting room, I can’t wait to get back home to relative peace and quiet and switch off again.



I listened to this audiobook while I walked on the Humber Trail. I have to say that I am glad I did this because this is a very dark, often violent story. My face was a veritable thundercloud at times, so dire was Avery’s predicament.



I tend to bounce back from these types of negative moods – eventually, so not to worry, but I am going to pace myself with these types of soul-destroying story lines. My heart can only take so much of man’s inhumanity to man. I prefer to stay hopeful, to believe that there are plenty of good people left in this world. Avery was able to find a few of those good people to help her on her journey to healing, but will she ever find true peace? The reader is left hopeful for her, and for that I was grateful.



I’m rating this one a 4.3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. TRIGGER WARNING: Rape Abduction Indoctrination



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