A good idea, but the characters didn't ring true to me. I think I would have been more interested if the book had continued further to see the characters adjustment to the outside world. ( )

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and cruel world. Under the eagle eye of New Jerusalem's found and leader, Daniel, Miriam feels safe and cared for. Even though, as a girl, she isn't allowed to speak her mind and must quiet her tongue, especially around men. When God calls for a Matrimony, Miriam is excited to finally be with Caleb, the boy she loves and knows will call her name to be his wife. But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with Aaron, a once outsider, she can no longer be silent and begins questioning her way of life.

The Virtue of Sin starts out as being told in Miriam's perspective but then begins to alternate between hers and Caleb's, the boy she should have married, as they live with the after effects of the ruined Matrimony Ceremony. Throughout the novel, the two begin to discover secrets within their community, especially ones centered around Daniel and how he might not be the prophet they think he truly is.

I've read a few cult books and I'm always very interested in seeing how the author goes about establishing the community. Shannon Schuren does an excellent job at explaining both Mariam and Caleb's outlook on it. Even Miriam's mom's explanation as to how they (their parents) became the first generation was interesting and informative as to exactly how this community was formed. The psychology aspect of it is particularly interesting to me.

Miriam is an incredibly strong female lead at the very start of the novel. Growing up she had a hard time keeping tight lipped and was told constantly by the elders and Daniel himself about it, but that doesn't really stop her much. She gradually finds her voice throughout the novel and once she starts finding out about the lies, she stands up for not only herself, but for everyone under the control of the so-called-Prophet. She's a great female lead character.

"...I didn't think that was the kind of thing any man would concern himself with. A woman's happiness?..."

Now Caleb I struggled with throughout the book, and I know that was partially the point since he is also under the influence of the teachings of New Jerusalem. He definitely bounced back and forth and sometimes said things, usually about women, that I wanted to scream at him for. But, it was great to see things from a male perspective of what was happening as well. Near the end, my heart ached for him to be able to find his peace.

This book was super easy to get sucked up in, special thanks to Schuren's excellent world building. I found it rather hard to put down at times. Wonderful, strong, female lead, and a look into a world of growing up and living in a cult. I highly suggest this book to anyone who wants to open a door to a world not many see. ( )

I will always be here for a novel featuring a plucky heroine escaping from a cult, and this novel fit the bill. I loved the use of biblical references at the start of each chapter, to illustrate the abuse inherent in each one. I liked the twist on the love triangle, and the emphasis on friendship. There were moments that were somewhat predictable, but I still couldn't wait to turn each page. Highly entertaining from start to finish. ( )

Miriam was born and raised in New Jerusalem; her parents were among the first faithful. She accepts her world at face value (strict male/female separation before marriage, weird rules of socializing after marriage, interpretation of dreams, etc.) but when the ordained Matrimony doesn't go like it's supposed to, she starts asking questions. Interestingly, she's willing to accept the unexpected results, except that so many people, from charismatic autocrat Daniel on down, are clearly upset about the outcome. Daniel even seems to think that what happened somehow puts the community in danger. But once Miriam starts looking, she sees oddities everywhere.

"It's like a puzzle that's been jumbled. Like someone tried to jam some pieces in where they don't belong," says Miriam. I couldn't have described it better. At first glance, this is yet another book about a religious cult, featuring a young woman who begins to question the garbage being fed to the faithful. Except there's a lot to figure out in this book. Like, who actually is a true believer, and to what lengths is Daniel willing to go to preserve his power? To what lengths has he already gone? And what in the world is Susanna up to?

There are definitely a lot of layers in this book. In addition, I found Miriam to be a particularly good character, and her inner voice drew me in right away. With elements of Vox, The Handmaid's Tale, and Educated, this book is an believable imagination of what the inside of a cult looks like to insiders. I wouldn't mind if Schuren took the characters a step further and imagined how they adjust after the action in this part of the story ends. ( )

This book intrigued me as it was marketed as a mix between The Handmaid's Tale and Educated, and while I can SEE the comparisons, The Virtue of Sin truly sits in a league of it's own. I recently read The 49th Mystic which has the similar religious cult mindset, set in a development "off the grid" because of the decay and destruction of the outside world. But where The 49th Mystic takes a fantastical twist, this read stays true to life and gives readers a look at some many fascinating themes. Themes such as blindly following, the detriment of radicalization mindsets, the fragility of abuse, and so much more. With diverse characters and vivid personalities the author does a fantastic job of dropping the reader right into the heart of the issues within.

*Disclaimer: a review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own. ( )