Review - 'The Line Between' by Tosca Lee

In The Line Between, when Wynter is evicted from a doomsday cult, she rejoins the world at the same time that a mysterious outbreak of dementia is spreading across the country. While she is trying to adjust to life in the real-world, she also realizes that she may be able to do something to help the research into the epidemic, all the while trying to figure out how to get her sister and her niece out of the cult too.

Whew, there is a lot going on in this book. In the first half, I was so into the story that the pages were practically turning themselves. We follow Wynter after she leaves the cult, alternating chapters with her life in the cult and what eventually led to her expulsion. The first half of the book is also when the outbreak first captures the public's attention, and it was fascinating to read the author's take on what the first weeks of an epidemic could look like as the country slowly experiences a breakdown of its infrastructure and services.

Then we hit about the middle of the book, and everything slows down to a snails pace. We reach the part in the story that is the bane of every apocalypse book I have ever read, and that is the run/hide/scrounge for resources/keep alive section. It's just not that interesting to read chapter after chapter of characters driving around, looking for gas and food, hiding in various dwellings, fighting off crazy people, and being tired and dirty. This section really dragged on.

Eventually, in the end, everything does come together in a somewhat satisfactory (though unsurprising) way. Since there is an epidemic, this book isn't able to wrap all that up, but rather leaves it open-ended. And it looks like the author is writing another book to continue Wynter's story further.

Even though the epidemic story line has been written many times, the cult element brings an interesting new dimension to this book. I particularly enjoyed the first half of the book, with all of its action and fast-pacing. It also has a slew of sweet and kind-hearted supporting characters who really make the book feel warm when it could easily have been depressing and cold. In the end, there is enough that is new and interesting in this story to keep my attention, and I'm glad I picked it up.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars