Not for the faint hearted...seriously
920240
First off, i have to say the first thing that caught my interest was the highly original story premise, and the book delivered in that department.  This book is genuinely creepy, and after finishing it all I could think was "wow" with a mix a shock and horror. There is imagery this book created in my head that I don't think I will ever be able to forget, and some of it I would like to, because it is that gross.  Without giving any details away, the ending is absolutely frightening by its implications.  The storyline is also capitvating and totally cringe worthy. This is seriously one the most original, demented, and haunting horror novels I have read in a very long time (and I have read 100's).  Very few books impact me in such a way that I have to go talk to others about them, but this book did.  Now, onto the part of why I gave it four stars- this book is brutally graphic.  Rape/torture/ and murder of VERY graphically depicted- to the point that my husband read just a part of this book and was like "no thank you" because it was so shocking for him. But if you are cool with Jack Ketchum and Richard Layton style depictions of violence then I TOTALLY recommend this book!  It also was a bit easy of a read, I finished this book in a evening.  Nonetheless its a good all around brutal horror tale of what happens when a blessing/miracle is bestowed on a sociopath.
2938636
Given the nature of the material, I was not expecting a light little tale of joy and contentment. The publisher's description doesn't really give you a sense of how extremely dark the first chapters of the book are, nor how awful the circumstances from which this little family is trying to escape truly have been.

Amity and Sorrow are the names of the two daughters, the young girls Amaranth is trying to rescue from a particularly sordid religious cult involving emotional and sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of women and children, terror and bondage.

The first few chapters of the book are so grim I almost stopped reading because I was finding it more than a little stomach turning. I have trouble ... a lot of trouble ... dealing with pain and abuse of any living creature. But it's worse dealing with children and animals. Amity and Sorrow are children and the degree to which they have both been horribly abused is never entirely laid out, but is certainly inferred with sufficient detail to make one feel that more detail would be over the top.

Just as I was about to close the book, it started to go in another direction, to a kind of redemption and restoration of light where there has previously been only darkness and fear.

It is very well written. For a first novel, it's quite extraordinary. It would be exceptional even if it were the 20th novel, but what can only imagine what this author may produce in the future. The description is paralyzing in its ability to evoke raw emotion in the reader.

This is not a book for children. It's also not a book for anyone who wants to keep his or her reading light. But, if you like to occasionally venture over to the dark side, visit the depths of depravity of which people are capable, try Amity & Sorrow. Although the theme of redemption is strong, the back story of despair, fear, and evil is equally strong ... so make sure you're ready for a trip into a nightmare.

It's available in hardcopy, paperback and Kindle from Amazon and I'm sure from other vendors too.
4973667
Wow!  I am stunned by this book.
 I think it's easier to write a review on this subject than to talk about it in conversation with so many people.  It's one of those conversations similar to,  "so who's 'your candidate' for president" that is too hard to converse about with the average person.  Immediately opinions are made and a conversation is heated (pardon the pun) and the sound barrier breaks!  Why though?  Or, it's a subject that people just don't want to talk about.  Ignore it.  (Where I live, anyway)

In the case of Hell, is it because some people might be too skeptical?  Or maybe too afraid to bring this subject to light...in order to abandon the idea that it exists?  I just don't know what makes people so jumpy.  Do most people know in all actuality what Mr. Wiese was exposed to without his going there in this day and age?

 You literally have to be schooled and interested in other people's points of view, before you can broach the subject to a handful  (or less) of
people. i.e. friends, family, classroom with open and closed minded people according to the way (possibly) their parent's religious beliefs or judgments effected them?

I believe in Bill Wiese's experience without a doubt.  But discussing the subject of whether or not a person in our lifetime actually did go there and come back for a reason is untouchable to many.  I understand.  We were not all brought up in the same religion or with the same
the subject and whether or not a person in our lifetime actually did experience what he did.  So many books have been written by those losing life and experiencing Heaven and that topic is also hard enough to explore with others.  But this did happen to Bill Wiese and I do believe him.
I am a Catholic woman.  If you believe in Heaven you must in Hell.  And the Biblical stories indicate that Hell exists.  Jesus descended there after he expired on the cross.  God created this place as He did all other.  Though we know of it's existence, it's not a place where the
average conversation explores more of.  What I mean is that the information which Mr. Wiese told us about is not known of, unless studied.

I must admit I learned much more than I knew before reading his book.  I like reading about the paranormal and I suppose this is part of that genre.  But, Hell scares me, as it did in this book.  Mr. Wise is so fortunate that he was one of the few who came back, and studied this by the side of Jesus Christ.  And I am especially glad that he was given the chance to come back and open up a dialogue about this subject that is normally shoved under the table where I live, either because we are too scared to face talking about it, or just don't believe in it.

This book was good for me to have read.  I think 'daily' of being a better person because of Mr. Wiese's experience, so it definitely touched my life.  I can only hope that I am succeeding with staying off that particular path because I can't imagine living there from what I have learned.  I am sure I will re-read this book once again, not that I need to feel more grounded, but for the dialogue.  I give this book 5 Stars.
3916296
I highly recommend this book, but one must be aware going into it, it is not for the faint of heart. Within the sadly ever-present backdrop of anti-Semitism, the description of what the authors father faced during the Holocaust is daunting.  What that experience did to him, and subsequently what it did to the author herself and her immediate family, is difficult to read as well. Ultimately, however, through all of this, the author is able to come to a point of healing and forgiveness, even going so far as to be able to visit the actual site of her fathers ordeal. The road is not easy, to say the least.
God bless you, Arie. I pray that you have found peace.
1126519
A pretty dark book, but well-written. Not really for the faint of heart.
3817113
One of my friends, a deep NON-believer in extraterrestrials, told me that she was moved by this harrowing work.  Out of mere curiousity I read it.  And...it changed me.  Most books on the subject of UFO's and extraterrestrials whiz right by me, and I've forget their message within days.  However, Communion has stuck with me, and Whitley Strieber's riveting account continuously resurfaces in my mind. But, sadly enough, this book is not for the faint-of-heart.  Its bizarre stories and explicit descriptions are downright frightening; I can honestly say that I have lost sleep over this book, lying awake, wondering if it's true.  I would not recommend this book before bed.  If Strieber's accounts of his alien abduction are true, then this book is more than a nonfiction work: it is undeniable proof that "they" do exist.  But even if Strieber is lying through his teeth, Communion makes for a highly entertaining read.
4405107
Not for the faint of heart or the politically correct.  But if you're into In-Your-Face kind of humor, give this one a try! I laughed until my sides hurt.
4107072
This is the kind of book that an average reader is going to struggle with.  It is not in any way an easy read.  There are many passages that elude me completely.  It reads like an upper level college text book.  I am reading this by myself and do not have a mentor and I am struggling with this work.  I read one or two pages at a sitting.  I study other reference material and then reread this.

I have no doubt about the academic excellence of this work.  And I have found it very educational.  However I need to constantly study, in complete silence and total concentration, and have on hand other resources, about who and what the author is referring to.  If you are an average reader, prepare yourself to work through this work very carefully, or in the alternative to become frustrated.  Thank You...
662051
Oh My Goodness! The deeper I got into "Thicker Than Blood" ......the more anxious I became, the more I found myself holding my breath,  the more I felt sick to my stomach.....NOT from the death and destruction and chaos in this world of virus infected humans but the anguish and hurt these characters faced and dealt with to survive and hang onto their humanity. I normally do not find this genre appealing but it kept me turning the pages....hoping, praying .....that Evelyn and Leisel would make it....
Can't wait to read the next book....chomp...chomp!
3320202
I read this book due to a recommendation by Amazon. I have to say it was not what I expected. Yes, it does move slow. BUT it is very intense. When you realize that this couple is so ( in my terms) simple minded you want to scream at the screen/ book and tell them to just do it! A lot of family history and the dark person involved you are confused the whole time about. Is he evil? Is he mental? Is he even there? A very good and dark minded read.
646514
This book took me longer to finish then most books..

I had to take breaks from it... I had to stop and think after certain chapters... I couldn't just read this book non-stop. This book isn't one of those books you devour overnight. Its a book that will take days to finish b/c that's how much it makes your brain work.

This book is dark..depressing...expressive..intense....exhausting. This book isn't something I've ever read. This book reaches down into your soul.

I read review after review of people not liking this book. I think in order to like this book you must have a certain amount of darkness within your soul.
You must be able to relate to Senna somewhat to be able to appreciate "WHY" she does things the way she does.

This book tests your emotions. This book is not a romance book.

This book is phenomenal.

"Its your darkness that pulls me in. Your mud vein. But sometimes having a mud vein will kill you."
824488
Holy Cow!  I am not sure what I just finished.  Although I had known in my mind what was going to happen in the story, it didn't help make it any easier to read. It was heart-wrenching, sad, and so many other emotions that I really can't put into words...and now I have to wait for book three!  "Sometimes...in life...the only thing you can do is hope...tomorrow will be better.  Than today.  Eventually...it will be..." I think the overall feeling in the book is hope, desperation, hopelessness, hope a cycle without end...unless you have felt this kind of pain you really can't relate...but if you have you will feel it to your bones!  "Keep...believing. Hold on.  Just hold on.  One--one breath a time..."  "Forgiveness is hard...It doesn't come easy.  Feeling love is easy.  Living love, that's the hard part..."
2223995
Tough subject matter, but I loved this book!
2041869
I found The Oath to be an excellent book.  However, this may not be the  book for everyone...
If you are offended "at the drop of a  hat," this book may not be for you.  Several people complained that  this book was too dark, perhaps even secular.  Also, another grip about the  book was that it didn't have enough spiritual application to it.  I  strongly disagree with these comments.
The story indeed was  "dark" and had a flavor of horror in it.  This only added to the  entertainment.  I can recall the Bible being scary at times.  Also, he  horror in it all is just a clever, modern day allegory of how sin can  destroy our lives.  Because it wasn't packed full of spiritual truths,(and  I'm not downing spiritual truths) unsaved people found it to be a great  book as well.  I had to do an oral presentation on The Oath at school and I  had the students clinging to my every word.  I also got to share with them  the real truths about how sin can destroy your life.  Therefore, I want to  say thanks to Mr. Peretti and also say that he doesn't need to "loosen  up." The only reason I rated this a 4 instead of a 5 is because I just  read This Present Darkness and that just raised my grading standard.
4729868
I sit here and try to calm myself after reading this shocking insight into what truly can come about from abuse/bullying.  Brian may be a fictional character but the details of how bullying at school, and his over abusive step father churned out in this book, make a compelling statement that although only 13.. ones mind can become dark after too much punishment.  I myself have 4 beautiful kids and to think something like this could of ever happened to them makes my stomach swirl.

This book is not for the weak minded and stomached.  I don't recommend it for those 17 and under due to the rape content.  Not that I don't think children should be aware, but this really sticks in your head.

I give this 5stars plus, as I'm sure it was a long saddened journey to write.
1257504
This book is not for the faint of heart.  It is relentless in its description of a mad man gone wild and a community intimidated, fearful with a legal system impotent to put a stop his rampages -- until, that is, a lynch mob took things in their own hands and put an end to his madness.  How Mr. Maclean ever was able to unearth the story is itself remarkable.  I was engaged to the very end and exhausted when I finished.
4747160
I received a complimentary copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I will be honest - this book is seriously disturbing at times.  As the title leads you to believe, we are dealing with internal organs.  Lots and lots of internal organs - as well as their removal and insertion from one physical body to another.  However, readers will soon discover as the story unfolds that the true heart of the tale is less about the organs themselves (or the bloody and hasty removal of them, which is often depicted in grisly and vivid detail), but more about the existential question at the heart of it: are we really more than just the sum of our parts?

This is a fast-paced and heart pounding visceral experience I have not had in some time.  It starts off with the foot on the accelerator and does not let off until the end... I am eagerly anticipating diving into the next book in the series and will continue following the work of Mr. Werbeloff with eager anticipation.