Welcome to my stop on the Astray Blog Tour!!
Lyla is caught between two worlds. The isolated Community that she grew up in and the outside world that she’s navigating for the very first time. The outsiders call the Community a cult, but Pioneer miraculously survived a shooting that should have killed him. Are the faithful members right to stay true to his message? Is this just a test of faith? One thing is for sure: the Community will do anything to bring Lyla back to the fold. Trapped in a spider’s web of deception, will Lyla detect the sticky threads tightening around her before it’s too late? She’ll have to unravel the mystery of what Pioneer and the Community are truly up to if she wants to survive.
Suspenseful and chilling, Astray is Amy Christine Parker’s nerve-fraying sequel to Gated. This fast-paced psychological thriller is masterfully plotted and sure to leave goose bumps. Perfect for fans of creepy YA thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.
My Thoughts:
When I read Gated last year, it completely took me by surprise. I went into it not knowing what to expect and came out on the other side amazed. The events and the plot of this book is something that I could truly see happening in real life and that’s what made it so terrifying. When I finished, I didn’t know that there would be a sequel so when I saw Astray I was absolutely ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it so that I could see what would happen to Lyla and Cody, and I’m happy to say that Astray didn’t disappoint, it was just as intense and chilling as the first book.
Lyla has been staying with Cody’s family since the raid on Mandrodage Meadows and although Pioneer is behind bars and she’s not with the Community anymore, she still doesn’t feel free. Pioneer still haunts her, and even behind bars, he will do everything he can to make sure Lyla comes back into the folds of the Community.
Like I said in my review of Gated, Lyla is such a strong character, and that strength doesn’t waver in this installment either. Sure, she may feel a little lost and like she doesn’t belong on one side or the other, but it takes strength to keep on fighting and that’s exactly what Lyla does. Pioneer may want her back and he may have the resources that he needs to get his way, but like so many, he underestimates Lyla’s strength.
Cody is another one of my favorite characters in these books. He’s just so caring, sweet and he has such a big heart. With everything that Lyla is going through, he’s her rock and if he wasn’t there for her, I’m not sure what would happen. The supporting characters are pretty amazing too, Taylor, Jack, Cody’s parents, all of them make a difference in Lyla’s life, and they make her see that there’s more to Outsiders than she grew up thinking.
Parker’s writing is astounding, the story flows flawlessly and she knows how to keep you entertained from the very first page up until the very end. Overall, Astray is just as strong and unsettling as Gated. If you enjoyed the first book, then you’re sure to love this one and if you haven’t read these books you, you should.
About the Author:
AMY CHRISTINE PARKER writes full-time from her home near Tampa, Florida, where she lives with her husband, their two daughters, and one ridiculously fat cat. Visit her at amychristineparker.com and follow her on Twitter @amychristinepar.
