Everything I Didn't Know

[3.4~3.5] the psychology behind cults has always been a frighteningly fascinating topic to me, and at our most jaded and vulnerable, i think we are all capable of understanding on some level the eerie ease with which a simpler life away from modern society, having someone else call the shots, can appeal to the overworked and unappeased mind. throw in a charismatic leader, an exclusive community of like-minded environmentalists with a roaring fervor to protect and heal Mother Earth (which is not too far off of a message considering this summer's worsening storms and heat spikes), and a unique set of devotional practices and maxims, and you have yourself Oasis.

but what happens when the scales fall from your eyes and you want out?

Bowie's journey to freedom earned all the stars on the suspense front. i was endlessly treading in a pool of my flop sweat, worrying about his safety as he led this double life in the commune, and whether he could muster up the acting and stealth chops to accomplish the impossible. my heart underwent the longest, most intensive cardio routine of its entire existence, with more calories burnt in the reading process than a bodycombat session at the gym.

my expectations for the romance had to recalibrate early on, as the more i learned about the controlled, oppressive environment they were confined in, the more i realized it didn't lend itself to an epic, nuanced romance - that's common in the genre and perfectly reasonable given the setting.

however, my rating did take a hit because Foster's depth as the other pov character got lost in the chaos and what remained was his sole role as Bowie's support rock and outlet. while this performed the very important function of propelling Bowie forward, i wish he had more to contribute aside from acts of impulsive tomfoolery that didn't mesh with their mission. i don't expect complete rationality and focus, but the blatant disregard for danger at times was encroaching on TSTL territory. his saving grace was his self-awareness, conscious of the fact that he was out of his depth and ill-equipped in his current position, but as a result, it felt like he was simply...there. and with the standalone and hfn structure of the story, we unfortunately missed out on the chance to expand on the tiny nuggets we did glimpse.

so expect some suspension of disbelief and romance taking a backseat, but definitely pick this up if you're looking for a hair-raising ride. if you don't break a single anxious drop of sweat, you must have a heart of steel