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    Broken Angel: A Novel
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    Broken Angel: A Novel
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    Broken Angel: A Novel
    Audiobook7 hours

    Broken Angel: A Novel

    Written by Sigmund Brouwer

    Narrated by Kirsten Potter

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous nation carved from the United States.

    In the rough, shadowy hills of Appalachia, in what is left of the United States following years of government infighting, Caitlyn Brown and her companions are prey in a terrifying hunt. They must outwit relentless bounty hunters, skirt an oppressive, ever-watchful society, and find passage over the walls of Appalachia to reveal the dark secrets behind Caitlyn's existence.

    Her birth was shrouded in mystery and tragedy. Her destiny is beyond comprehension. Her pursuers long to see her broken. But she fights to soar.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateAug 4, 2009
    ISBN9780739381595
    Unavailable
    Broken Angel: A Novel
    Author

    Sigmund Brouwer

    Sigmund Brouwer is the award-winning author of over 100 books for young readers, with close to 4 million books in print. He has won the Christy Book of the Year and an Arthur Ellis Award, as well as being nominated for two TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards and the Red Maple Award. For years, Sigmund has captivated students with his Rock & Roll Literacy Show and Story Ninja program during his school visits, reaching up to 80,000 students per year. His many books in the Orca Sports and Orca Currents lines have changed the lives of countless striving readers. Sigmund lives in Red Deer, Alberta.

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    Reviews for Broken Angel

    3.5/5

    90 ratings29 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Imagine a world in the not too distant future, with a truly dystopian big-brother-is-watching type of society. Add in a caste-like system in the new city-states in the United States, and a government sponsored, human genetic manipulation program. Now imagine that there is a sovereign theocratic "country" bordered by these city-states and you get just a hint of the setting for Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer.Broken Angel is the first in Caitlyn Brown series and focuses on the life of a young girl. Caitlyn knows that she is different and honestly believes this difference is due to her physical deformities. Her father, Jordan, has kept her relatively isolated but knows that she must venture "outside" Appalachia to receive the medical assistance she requires. The only things that can potentially stop their escape to "the outside" are the bounty hunters on their trail. Jordan forces Caitlyn to run by herself, hoping that she'll stick to the map he's provided and his instructions. He hopes to lay a false trail giving her time to get as far away as possible.After Jordan is captured, Sheriff Mitch Carney acknowledges that all is not as it should be in his small town. People are required to carry vidpods (presumably similar to iPods) at all times to receive special notices and bulletins from their leader, Bar Elohim. Each town in Appalachia is limited in size to three thousand people, because smaller towns are easier to control. Cars are few and far between due to government fuel rationing. In addition, cars are equipped with monitoring devices so that the religious leadership can determine where a vehicle has been and/or monitor all conversations. There are no phones, no televisions and no contact with the outside. There is a death penalty for reading, owning books or teaching others to read. Horses and some people are chipped so that the leadership knows where they are or can track their movements.Casper Pierce is a government agent from the outside sent into Appalachia to capture Caitlyn. He is assisted by a local bounty hunter and thug, Mason Lee. Pierce and Lee don't get along at all and the situation is exasperated when Pierce intentionally injures Lee to make a point.Deputy Bill Jasper has always done as told and the leadership told him to begin working as a deputy. He doesn't know why exactly but goes with the flow. Unfortunately Billy gets caught between Caitlyn and some bounty hunters and reluctantly joins her in her quest to reach the "outside." Theo is another runaway, a visually impaired, that is running from the harsh treatment received as part of his sentence to work in the factory.The idea of genetic modification is hinted at throughout the story, but I felt that the primary focus was on providing the groundwork for the next installment in this series. Broken Angel is a well-crafted dystopian read that openly discusses the problems with religion as a force majeure. The characters are all well developed. It's difficult to discern the good guys from the bad guys for a while but it is important to take each person at face value because circumstances change rapidly and someone that might start off in a bad light becomes heroic. There's a lot going on in this story and the subplots often overlap, but this never causes any confusion. Broken Angel starts a little slow but quickly picked up and kept me engaged until the end. Thankfully I was able to immediately begin reading the next installment in this series, Shadow of Flight.
    • 4/5
      Broken Angel paints a frighteningly real picture of a fictional but all-too-possible future. An oppressive and dictatorial nation called Appalachia, formed from a broken United States, is a world where the government tolerates no secrets and affords little privacy to have them.In this tyrannical society, Caitlyn is more special than even she knows, and her uniqueness creates grave dangers for the innocent young woman; Jordan is her adoring father who, despite his secret and shameful past, is now prepared to sacrifice everything including his life to protect his child. On their trail is a cruel and ruthless bounty hunter who’s determined to capture the girl – and take more than just her life.Alone and seemingly abandoned by the one person she trusts, Caitlyn must accept help from strangers: a near-blind escapee from one of Appalachia’s many forced-labor factories, and a big man with a kind heart and a slow brain. Together, the little group makes its way through the treacherous Appalachian countryside, enroute to the Outside. There, Caitlyn can be freed from the mysterious thing that makes her different. But reaching and crossing that border may cost the girl everything she’s ever held dear.Sigmund Broewer’s novel is riveting and fast-paced – there’s no time to breathe and no relief from the tension. It delivers mystery, tragedy, uncertainty … and unexpected moments of humor and joy that make all the rest of it bearable. Broken Angel will draw you in and hold you in its spell long after you’ve read the last page. Amazing detail, gripping storyline, and unbelievable writing.
    • 3/5
      It was a pretty good novel, but sometimes difficult to follow and in many spots, unable to hold my attention. Because of this, it took me a long while to read. Not to be harsh, but the best part of the book and really the only part that I found interesting was the last couple of chapters because I believe that these pages were the ones with the most depth written in them. They were also the only pages that were really crystal clear on their meaning and the most enjoyable section.
    • 4/5
      I have always enjoyed a good against evil escape story. Caitlyn was raised on the fringes of the hills of Appalachia which has been separated from the rest of the US as a nation of its own. The nation is dotted with closed off and controlled communities. Rules and horror stories keep people in line and a combination of technology and simplistic life style keep the people tightly controlled. Because Caitlyn is different, she has been protected by her father and kept at a safe distance from the communities. Because Caitlyn is different, she is not safe in Appalachia.As the story opens, you know Caitlyn is being hunted, but you aren't exactly sure why. The reason why became apparent to me very quickly, but I think that may be because of the type of novels I have read in the past. The story doesn't center around the why as much as the chase. The reader is introduced to several characters who by circumstances will join Caitlyn on her journey. We are also introduced to some characters who are out to get Caitlyn and anyone who gets in the way.What I liked was the very story idea. I do wish that the book went a little deeper into the nation of Appalachia and its leader as I found it very interesting. I also really enjoyed the characters that helped Caitlyn. I would love to go into detail, but I don't want to spoil a thing!The story moved quickly. It was definitely a book I didn't want to put down. I began it before bed and finished it the following afternoon. It obviously left you with some unanswered question which is to be expected as it is the first in a series.I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah for review. The opinion is entirely my own.
    • 3/5
      It's a nice science-fiction thriller with some Christian elements. It was a little difficult for me to get into it in the beginning but about mid-way through the book, I became really engaged and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to the main character Caitlyn an her companions that help her get away from the deadly hunt. It's a little bit of dystopian world of United States being divided into two different worlds and it's hard to say which one is worse. Caitlyn is a product of genetic experimentation and that's why she's being hunted. It's a short, quick read.
    • 4/5
      Welcome to the country of Appalachia -- a theocracy led by Bar Elohim, an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-controlling, not so benevolent dictator. Sigmund Brouwer delivers a chilling society where religion is literally the opiate of the masses. The story catches you early. Bits and pieces of the puzzle are introduced causing a not to be put down read.Towards the conclusion, Brouwer gives a glimpse of his rationale for writing this novel. The United States has been split into two countries. The Outside has scientific exploration without moral boundries. Appalachia has religion without God and grace. Split from each other, the two countries are the nightmare visions of what America could evolve into.I liked this book very much and look forward to the sequel due out in Jan. 2010.
    • 4/5
      Very interesting book that kept me guessing as to what was coming next. Was a little slow at times, but I felt like the rest of the book made up for the parts that were a little slow to develop. Would recommend as a good read, and would surely read more from this author.
    • 4/5
      This book grabbed my attention from the very first page. Brouwer says just enough in the opening narrative to ensure the reader wants to know not only what happens, but what is going on as well. In fact, you don't discover what exactly is happening until the end of the book, which was the only frustrating thing about it. I would have preferred a little more exposition along the way, but when I discovered there is a sequel in the works, I understood more of the author's reasoning behind not revealing as much as he did.The book unfolds within a setting in which there has been a major upheaval in the United States resulting in a smaller country ruled by religious extremists in the Appalachain Mountains tensely co-existing alongside a larger country where science (absent any religious or moral influence) reigns supreme. The main heroine is a young girl who within her oncoming age of puberty must also delve into her own mysterious past which has her inexplicably tied to both places. At its core, the book critically examines the dangers inherent in worldviews that exist in the extremist range of ideas. Simultaneously taking on religion and science, it explores what happens when the two sides totally dismiss the worth and contributions of the other and trry to create an environment in which their particular way is the one and only answer to all things.
    • 4/5
      Good book. Hard to put down at times.
    • 5/5
      I read this book over Labor Day weekend. Very intriguing, a bit suspenseful in places. It is set in the future, about a century ahead. Deals with genetic engineering and how it affected a father and his daughter. I recommend it!
    • 4/5
      This book was very good at keeping my attention. It never had any dull moments and I always had trouble putting it down. I only wish that there had been a better job of explaining things that had apparently happened in the past. I always felt like I was missing something while reading and wondered if there was a book written before it. Other than that it was really good and I am waiting for the second novel to come out so I can continue reading about Caitlyn's journey.
    • 4/5
      I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It didn't take long to figure out what was going on with Caitlyn's body, but it was interesting how the story wound around to the secret. The opening paragraphs hooked me instantly, and I enjoyed the story very much. It is well written and the characters are great, although most are mysterious. I love how Mason has a "turn about" so to speak, at the end. The fictional society is appalling (as it is supposed to be) which puts the reader on the side of those who want to escape. As someone who works in a high school library, the idea of reading being illegal is horrible. It was terrifying to read about how in the book technology had become totally icon and voice driven - I hope it never truly becomes a reality for us. I am now waiting for yet another sequel! I am so excited!
    • 4/5
      I've noticed Sigmund Brouwer's books on bookstore shelves for years, but never had a chance to read one. I had heard he was a good writer, so I was looking forward to reading Broken Angel when I learned that I would be receiving an Early Reviewer copy of it. For the most part, it was an enjoyable read.Broken Angel is set in a dystopic future in which a secular science-based government controls the world. The lone holdouts are a group of pseudo-Christian cultists who have created their own theocratic country in the North American Appalachian mountains. In Appalachia, reading is forbidden, orphans are sent to work camps, and minor crimes can be punished by stoning. Caitlyn, our heroine, is brought there by her father, who is trying to hide a secret related to her strange disability. But as she grows older, the secret threatens to reveal itself and they must escape from Appalachia. Their escape attempt is hampered by bounty hunters and they are separated. Caitlyn is forced to escape on her own. Along the way, she picks up several companions who are also trying to escape to the Outside.Brouwer has done some excellent world-building in this story and it certainly has some exciting moments. However, his characterization seemed fairly flat and lacking. The most fleshed out character is his villain, who is almost exaggeratedly evil at times. Also I find it rather unlikely that the pro-life movement is suddenly going to secede and form their own evil theocracy, which is the impression certain statements in the book leave you with. Still, it's a better written book than James Patterson's Maximum Ride series, which deals with a similar subject.While Broken Angel is more or less a standalone book, there is a sequel advertised in the back. I'll probably pick it up to see what Brouwer does next.
    • 3/5
      Broken Angel is about a girl, her father and their journey to get out of Appalachia, a theocratic state formed in what was the United States. I was surprised how much I found myself enjoying this book and thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading the book. It doe have religious overtones but it isn't so over powering that it distracts from reading the book. The story moved quickly, sometimes a little too quickly. I wish Mr. Brouwer had taken more time to flesh out the action and some locations. I would also have loved more background on how Appalachia came to be and its leadership.
    • 4/5
      I found this futuristic Christian dystopia to be very readable. In a future where reading is a crime punishable by enslavement we are introduced to Caitlyn as she struggles to leave this society. The book moved along nicely and I was able to overlook a somewhat unfinished feeling to the novel.What I didn't care for and thus my reason for not rating it higher is that I am not a Christian and I do not enjoy reading novels based on and for the Christian population. I approached this one as a novel of fiction but felt the Christian themes were too overlapping to ignore.
    • 3/5
      I thought this book had an interesting premise, but I felt as though I spent the whole time waiting to figure out why I should care about what was happening. The characters were very two-dimensional, to the point where there were times where I couldn't figure out whose point-of-view the story was being told from. (The frequent point-of-view changes didn't help with that either.) I felt as though this book would have been a lot better if it were a couple hundred pages longer. there was a lot to the plot that could have been fleshed out more fully which, I think, would have resulted in a more enjoyable book.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. Appalachia has become a religious city-state with limited access to "Outside". Caitlyn is different, and different isn't tolerated in Appalachia. She and her father are trying to escape. In addition to the exciting escape story, Brouwer uses his story to comment on what can happen to a society that loses all its dissidents, either by tossing them out or by them leaving voluntarily. Both Appalachia and Outside are impacted by this loss, in surprisingly similar ways.A sequel is planned, but this can be read as a stand-alone. I'll be looking for the sequel though. I want to learn more about Caitlyn, Appalachia, and Outside.
    • 3/5
      Well, I really wanted to like this book but I found it was just "okay" for me. I love the concept but it almost felt like a rough draft or a manuscript...not fully fleshed out. I would have loved to learn more about the characters, their thoughts and feelings, the reasoning behind their actions. I felt as if I knew each character so superficially that it was difficult in the first two-thirds of the book to keep many of the secondary characters straight in my head as I was reading. More dialogue between the characters would have helped me feel as if I knew and understood them better. Overall I just felt that lack of detail kept me from enjoying this book as much as I would have liked.
    • 4/5
      Like the last Early Reviewer I received, this one could be classified 'Christian Fiction'. Unlike the last one I received, this one could also be read by anyone who enjoys a good story!Broken Angel takes place in the near future. Fundamentalist Christians have banded together and seceded from the Union, forming their own country 'Appalachia'. They have a large electric fence surrounding their country, both keeping the Outside out and their people in. Border's are strictly controlled by Bar Elohim and his 'Elders'. Appalachia is an intriguing mix of old and new. Cars have been outlawed, except for official purposes. People move around on horseback or on foot. At the same time, everyone is required to have a registered 'vidpod' (it seems to be like a scarier version of the iPhone) on them at all time. This way they can be tracked and recorded. Being found without your vidpod is grounds for arrest. Reading is grounds for stoning.It is to this new country that Jacob flees with daughter Caitlyn shortly after her birth. He has a secret he can never tell her regarding the circumstances of her birth. He knows as she matures, changes other than the typical will occur and it will be impossible to hide any longer. As Caitlyn reaches the cusp of woman hood, he is discovered and they go on the run, chased by Bar Elohim's bounty hunters. After 3 days, he hands her a letter and some instructions and sends her to find her way to the Outside while he attempts to distract the dogs from her true trail.Broken Angel is full of twists and turns as Caitlyn moves through her heroes journey. People who seem like the 'bad guys' become good and vice versas. As I read, my allegiances were constantly shifting, though they never left Caitlyn. I was so taken in, that I finished it in just a few hours. The dialogue was readable, the action believable and premise fascinating.Beyond just be a great read, I was left thinking about Theocracy, Fundamental Christianity and freedom of choice. It's my constant intention to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so I will end by saying that the people most likely to enjoy this book are Evangelicals or 'Mainstream' Christians with leftist leanings like myself, though, I'd truly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a little meat with their thrillers.
    • 3/5
      I think the title of this book does it a disservice. It destroys the mystery and surprise about the main character's "deformity." At any rate, this is the story of a future or alternate reality North America where the Appalachian area has been divided from the secular US (the "Outside") and is run as a safe and happy theocracy that controls the actions and environment of the inhabitants. As is to be expected, there are cracks: not everybody is happy, dissenters are forced into labor camps ('factories'), and people are not allowed to learn to read (which must be the most horrible fate any author can dream up). There are rumors of escape to the Outside, but it is fraught with danger and a whiff of urban legend. Caitlyn has grown up in this country, though she was born Outside. She has grown up struggling with a deformity, not so much because she is ashamed but because she sees her father's discomfort. Almost immediately upon the novel's start, she is separated from her father and on the run as forces from Outside and in join forces to try to capture the two of them. Her father had been involved in something that had forced him to sneak into the Appalachians to hide from the Outside, but the oppressive theocracy has taken its toll. Her father has been preparing her for this moment and she follows his instructions while moaning about how he abandoned her (by sacrificing himself to distract the bounty hunters). Along the way, she picks up companions, and by the end of the book, nearly everybody is _not what they seem_ or _is also trying to escape_. There is a bit too much coincidence and luck in her companion-picking to suit my taste, but the novel was interesting and the tempo of her journey was well set. Although the book could be read as an indictment of religious extremism, I think it is trying to say that all extremism is bad -- the extreme secularism of the Outside is also a brooding presence, though not so obvious since we are inside the Appalachian theocracy. I was, in fact, disturbed by one character's wish that the Outside could use some of the natural braking provided by religion. Since it was provided without counter-claim or comment, I think it was the author's intention to showcase this as the point: each side needs something from the other. However, if the particular checks mentioned had been in place, Caitlyn would never have been born, which can't be the result they're looking for.Overall, an interesting read, but a bit heavy-handed in places.
    • 5/5
      The states are split. There is the Appalachia and Outside. After Caitlyn’s mother died in child birth, her father took her into the Appalachia. There is something different about Caitlyn. She has reached puberty and her body is changing. Her father has to get her out of Appalachia to the Outside where people can help her. Someone is after her, wants to kill her, but there are those who are helping her escape. Will she make it? This reminds me of James Patterson’s Angel Experiment. This is an exciting read and leaves you wanting more.
    • 3/5
      Having read a good many books in an old children's series by Sigmund Brouwer, I was surprised to see how adaptable his style is. I didn't know he could write for adults as well. Once over my surprise at the change, I concentrated on the story.Yes, I do like his style of writing, though the information stream left something to be desired. At times, I had no idea what was going on. Then, he’d explain a lot at once, so that as a reader my confusion left, only to be replaced with an overwhelming amount of information.As for the story, it was mediocre at best. A father tries to help his unusual daughter to escape a fanatical conservative society into a liberal world that he hates, but one where he believes she’ll be safe. I honestly don’t know why he thought that, even after the conclusion of the book. I mean the liberal society wanted her even more than the conservative one did.Anyway, the book is fine if you want a quick read to pass the time, but it’s not something to read over and over again, unless you’re just plain confused. Personally, I don’t feel my time’s been wasted, but I won’t be looking for sequels.
    • 5/5
      ERAn entertaining read that I enjoyed, but I do have a few discrepancies. First, (and this is not really the authors fault) I have a very strong preference to first person narrative. I can handle a lot of third person novels okay, but when the narrative jumps back and forth between characters I get very annoyed. Every 2 to 3 pages the narrative in this book would switch, and I would lose interest. It took me much longer to read this book than expected because I kept putting it down at the next narrative change. It made me feel like I had a small case of ADD. Second: Normally I really like “to-the-point” novels. Meaning the author gets right in there with the story and doesn’t bore the reader to death describing useless things that I, as the reader, don’t give a crap about. The author certainly doesn’t bore me with non-issues, however, I felt he could have gone into MUCH MORE detail about the settings and back-story of this novel. Third: The story was a bit predictable. BUT, it was still a very good story. It was a little too reminiscent of James Patterson’s “When the Wind Blows” and the his other works that branch off from that book. But, that’s okay. This novel is good in its own right. Fourth: (POSSIBLE SPOILER!!!) There is a character in this book that is unaccounted for at the end (Sheriff Carney). The reader is completely cluless as to whether he lived or died, escaped or is captured. The character development is not so great in this novel so I can live without knowing. Also, I am assuming this character will make an appearance in the second book. But I found it to be lazy writing not to resolve this detail before the end of book one in the series.There was some violence in this novel that I am not used to in Christian fiction. It was pretty disturbing, but I have recently read much, much worse (See the book “Afraid” by Jack Kilborn if you like to be extremely disturbed and upset by your reading material. *cringing*) so I handled it fine. All-in-all a good book. I will purchase and read the sequel for sure.
    • 3/5
      Jordan Brown must get his daughter to safety, the problem is, there really isn't a safe place for her. She is different, in a radical way. Now they are being hunted by both major governments of their time and must rely on their wits and courage to save them. They soon run into others who must seek asylum and safety if they want to pursue their dream of freedom.I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program. Sigmund Brouwer is one of my favorite YA authors. He has a gift of drawing you right into the action of the story. This is a story of possibilities in a future of our world. It explores possibilities of science without morality of some kind. It also explores the problem of an organized church or religion as a power in the world versus the freedom of belief and action. I liked these themes, but this story is not for me. A large part of the story is focused on the hunter, Mason Lee, who is a sadistic torturer. I hate reading about torture. This is very explicit. Now I need to go find a happy place for my mind.
    • 4/5
      I've loved apocalyptic thrillers and books about dystopian societies since I was a teenager reading Logan's Run, Earth Abides and Alas, Babylon. Sigmund Brouwer's Broken Angel follows in that well-worn mold, but manages to be a good read. It's not destined to be a classic, and honestly owes more than a little to the past, especially Logan's Run. But it was entertaining and I'll be looking out for the sequel.In an Appalachia of the not too distant future, an independent country has been established that's run by a Christian fundamentalist. The society has rejected most technology and doesn't read, but that hasn't stopped them from bringing in some things from Outside to make the process of controlling the population easier. Caitlyn has always looked and acted different from those around her, and her father wants to get her Out to treat a medical condition that manifests as a hunchback. The Clan knows the way out and is helping them escape, but there's a bounty hunter trailing them determined to bring them back. Broken Angel is the story of their escape attempt.Brouwer knows how to write an action-packed novel that kept my attention. His characters, though, are a bit weak. He could have put more effort into character names, which came of as a bit cheesy, and there were some one-liners that poked at current fundamentalists that felt gratuitous to me. And I saw the twist at the end coming a mile away.Recommendation: it's an entertaining, but flawed work. Not bad for a beach read or an airplane ride, I imagine.
    • 4/5
      This book was very well written and a super-fast read. I loved the main character Caitlyn, and the setting was interesting and even somewhat believable, with the future U.S. divided into "The Outside" and "Appalachia". I would have liked to see a little more background and development on these societies, and I hope this is the beginning of a series, with more books to come, because I found myself wishing that this was a much, much longer book.
    • 1/5
      I tried to like this book, but couldn't. The characters were shallow and while considered "Christian fiction" I really didn't find much that bolstered my faith or made me think deeper about what I believe. This is the first book I have read by this author. I'm not ready to give up yet, as I have heard that some of his other works are really good. That said, don't waste your time on this one.
    • 3/5
      I really wanted to like this book. It starts out as an exciting mystery surrounding a deformed girl who has been abandoned on a terrifying flight though a strange futuristic Appalachian dystopia. But as the book goes on the story turns dissapointingly predictable. Characters are introduced, given interesting roles, and then nothing is done with them. The most interesting elements of the story appear to have been ripped from books by Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, and others. I really wanted to like it, but the writing just didn't hold up.
    • 2/5
      We had agreed-the woman I loved and I-that as soon as you were born, we would perform an act of mercy and decency, and wrap you in a towel to drown you in a nearby sink of water.” This is a quote from the first line of Broken Angel and from there I was hooked. This is the story of Caitlyn and her father Jordan. Caitlyn has grown up in Appalachia where free will is taken away from the citizens living there. The people are ruled by an oppressive group of elders known as Bar Elohim. Bar Elohim monitors and records every move of each citizen on a device called a Vidpod, but this only represents a fraction of the control and cruelty the elders place upon the people of Appalachia.Caitlyn’s father decides they need to escape to a new place known as the Outside, because he has been hiding the fact that she is unique in order to protect her from the consequences of Bar Elohim. In the Outside, her difference would be loved and appreciated, but it is a dangerous and long path that leads to the Outside. Along the way, Caitlyn meets people that help her escape, but she must avoid the aggressive pursuit of a bounty hunter, who will stop at nothing to capture and kill her. We meet a rich cast of characters, including a young boy, who has also escaped oppression, and a sweet but naïve sheriff’s deputy who is not what he seems.Broken Angel is a fast-paced thriller but the story is developed more because of its focus on a character with a strong heart. Caitlyn’s character generates the energy and passion that drives this tale. He also reveals that Caitlyn’s difference should be celebrated, just as God shows us in the Bible.I would have liked to have learned more about the Appalacian society but the author’s main story was about Caitlyn’s escape, and the encounters she has along the way. The author shows us a world where free will is taken and life is instead imposed on a society. People are not allowed to think and act for themselves. It is easy to imagine yourself living in a world where freedom to choose and think for yourself is gone. Someday our society might face the impositions of government that the book describes, especially the one of monitoring our every move. There has been information in the news about face recognition software that may one day be used everywhere. We are monitored now just about every public place we go so the Vidpods in the story are not a foreign concept. There are lots of twists and turns as the reader maneuvers through this saga to a tear-jerking, fulfilling conclusion. This book is well written, and gives us lots to think about, including the fact that God gives us free will to make choices.