The Divide by Jolina Petersheim

About the book: (from the publisher) In this gripping conclusion to The Alliance, nearly six months have passed since Leora Ebersole’s Old Order Mennonite community fled to the mountains for refuge after an attack destroyed the power grid and altered life as they knew it. Since then, Leora has watched and waited for news of Moses Hughes, the young Englischer pilot who held off invading looters long enough for everyone to escape. Unsure Moses even survived, Leora has begun to warm to the affections of Jabil Snyder, who has courted her patiently. But she struggles to see herself as the bishop’s wife, especially when she learns that Moses is alive and has now joined a local militia.

An unexpected encounter in the woods deepens Leora’s crisis, as does a terrifying new threat that brings Moses’ militia into the community’s shaky alliance with the few Englischers left among them. When long-held beliefs are once again put to the test, Leora wrestles with the divide between having faith and taking action. Just how much will her shifting landscape change her?

About the author: Jolina Petersheim is the critically acclaimed author of The Alliance, The Midwife, and The Outcast, which Library Journal called “outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational” in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. That book also became an ECPA, CBA, and Amazon bestseller and was featured in Huffington Post’s Fall Picks, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and the Tennessean. CBA Retailers + Resources called her second book, The Midwife, “an excellent read [that] will be hard to put down,” and Booklist selected The Alliance as one of their Top 10 Inspirational Fiction Titles for 2016. Jolina’s nonfiction writing has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, and Today’s Christian Woman. She and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but they now live in the mountains of Tennessee with their three young daughters. Jolina blogs regularly at www.jolinapetersheim.com.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter 

Genre: Fiction/Christian/Dystopian

[bctt tweet=”It’s finally here! The stunning conclusion to The Alliance series: THE DIVIDE @jolina_joy @Crazy4Fiction @TyndaleHouse ” username=”KatherineSJones”]

My take: It’s one of my favorite experiences in the world, placing myself in the hands of a masterful storyteller — letting go of the metaphorical wheel and allowing someone else to steer while I rest content, knowing I am in the hands of a most capable guide. This was my experience from the opening lines of Jolina Petersheim’s powerful conclusion to The Alliance series, The Divide.

As always, Jolina’s prose is unparalleled in its finesse, so finely drawn it pulled me quickly into the immediacy of the plot. But more than that, the story! Anticipation shimmered: what would happen to Moses and Leora?

In addition to the continuance of original plot lines, Jolina’s talent lies in her unwavering sense of character as well as her ability to remain true to the smallest nuance. She drills down to an unshakable grasp of what motivates her complex, multi-layered characters. Meanwhile, evocative descriptions allow for an immersive experience. I thought about the story and its characters often while I was away from it, the buzz of addictive tension almost palpable.

I savored the collision of the characters complicated “why’s” that drove the story forward. Jolina creates an irresistible compulsion to turn pages seeking resolution. Here we see the author’s gift for storytelling on full display. In an already fine body of work, I found The Divide to be Jolina Petersheim’s most powerful novel since The Outcast. It certainly sets my great anticipation for her next one.

Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

After words: I’d love to see this book made into a movie! What are some of your favorite books-turned-flicks?