**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of the below in exchange for an honest review as part of a tour hosted by TBR and Beyond Tours.**
Title The Ballad of Ami Miles
Author Kristy Dallas Alley
Release Date December 1, 2020
Description
Raised in isolation at Heavenly Shepherd, her family’s trailer-dealership-turned-survival compound, Ami Miles knows that she was lucky to be born into a place of safety after the old world ended and the chaos began. But when her grandfather arranges a marriage to a cold-eyed stranger, she realizes that her “destiny” as one of the few females capable of still bearing children isn’t something she’s ready to face.
With the help of one of her aunts, she flees the only life she’s ever known, and sets off on a quest to find her long-lost mother (and hopefully a mate of her own choosing). But as she journeys, Ami discovers many new things about the world… and about herself.
Initial Thoughts
I was excited to be chosen for this tour. I have been watching a ton of TV shows about cults lately and this dystopian setting seemed like it would really fit that theme.
Some Things I Liked
- Ami’s story. I really enjoyed the way that the focal point of the story was on Ami herself and her journey of self discovery. There were excellent supporting characters but, the crux of the story was about Ami.
- Cult vibes. Heavenly Shepherd was most certainly a cult. They had extreme views, a hideous dress code, and various other rules that would seem insane to an outsider. I absolutely loved the way Ami discovered what Heavenly Shepherd was as well as her introduction to all of the things she was missing in the real world.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
- The explanation of the infertility. I found myself confused at a point because was it just Ami’s family that had this problem? Ami obviously discovered people who didn’t seem quite so plagued with the issue so I couldn’t understand if she was simply lied to or if the problem wasn’t explained clearly enough for my understanding.
Series Value
Ami’s story feels complete. However, I think this world is interesting and I’d be eager to know more about it. I also really enjoyed Kristy Dallas Alley’s writing and would read her future novels.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I didn’t realize how much I was missing a book like this until I read it. Ami’s story was different from anything I had read in a while and I loved that.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Escaping Eleven by Jerri Chisholm – if you’re looking for a dystopian story where the societal structure is not all that it seems, try this new release.
- The Grace Year by Kim Liggitt – if you’re looking for those Handmaid’s Tale vibes, look no further than this 2019 release.
Book Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41564826-the-ballad-of-ami-miles
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ballad-Miles-Kristy-Dallas-Alley/dp/1250222133/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Ballad+of+Ami+Miles+by+Kristy+Dallas+Alley&qid=1602612564&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ballad-of-ami-miles-kristy-michelle-dallas-alley/1131993088?ean=9781250222138
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Ballad-Ami-Miles-Kristy-Dallas-Alley/9781250222138?ref=grid-view&qid=1602612572945&sr=1-1
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-ballad-of-ami-miles/9781250222138-item.html?ikwid=The+Ballad+of+Ami+Miles+by+Kristy+Dallas+Alley&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=165007be9530df9c6a1ada86cca2af07
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250222138
Author Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristyDAlley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristydallasalley/?hl=en
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18366864.Kristy_Dallas_Alley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristydallasalleyauthor/
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