Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley seems to have mixed reviews, even from my trusted blogger friends.
But I’m not mixed about my feelings in the least. This book was amazing! Dark and full of desperation and sadness, for sure.
Look at how cool the front and back covers at on this copy! Creepy, right?
Amity & Sorrow is a story about two sisters, Amity, age 12, and Sorrow, older, but unsure of her exact age, who escape with their mother Amaranth from a dangerous polygamous cult.
Amaranth, first wife of fifty wives, decides it’s time to escape when she realizes a few hard truths.
Amity and Sorrow have a difficult time adjusting to life in the “real world” outside of the cult, and Sorrow resists wholeheartedly.
This story is about the cult, sexual perversions (but not graphic), sorrow, and trying to create a new life in a world with many unknowns.
I don’t think this book is for everyone. It’s dark, creepy, depressing. But it’s a unique book and very interesting, if you can handle the hopelessness it induces.
Here are a few other opinions on Amity & Sorrow:
Thanks to Allison @ The Book Wheel for passing on this book to me, and thanks to Leah @ Books Speak Volumes for sending it Allison’s way!
Does this sound like the kind of book you would read?
Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon
rscaglione.wordpress.com 
I really want to read this-great review!
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Thanks, Kerri! I loved it, and if you expect it to be dark and about the life after a cult, you’ll hopefully love it, too!
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I’m glad you liked it, too!
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I don’t think dark, creepy, and depressing is really my thing, but I agree with you about the cover. Very beautiful but very creepy 🙂
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Okay, then skip it if you’re not a dark and depressing fan because that’s what this book is. . . but in a good way!
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I’ve had it on my wishlist/TBR despite the mixed reviews. So I’m going to give it a try when I get ahold of a copy anyway! Thanks!
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i think it’s good to sometimes read a mixed review book for yourself and decide. For instance, I’m dying to read Tampa, which is controversial but has mixed reviews as well.
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I’m so glad that you liked it even though I didn’t. Especially because it’s so popular and I couldn’t think of any reason why!
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I can see both sides of it for sure 🙂
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This is one of those books that really has split opinions. I have put off reading it so it’s good to read your review explaining why it isn’t’t for everyone…. I think I will give it a go now – thank you
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Good luck with it! I hope you enjoy it, but even if you don’t, at least you gave it a shot and know where you stand on it.
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Thanks for sharing my review 🙂 LOVE the cover of your edition, so cool!
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You’re welcome!!!
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Nice cover! I wish I did grab this off Netgalley (I think it was on there).
Even though we have similar tastes in books with your trusted blogger friends, there will be times where we like a book that they don’t (you know this, of course) so I’m glad you did like the story!! Seeing so many reviews, both of people who like it and didn’t like it, it sure does interest me to check it out for myself.
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I missed it when it was on NetGalley. I saw people’s reviews and wanted it, but it was too late.
I hope that by providing my review as well as the few others, that people can see a well-rounded picture of the book, and be able to decide for themselves. I love dark and twisted, pretty much all the time: the darker the better for me. But not everyone likes that. It can be creepy.
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Hey, wait, I remember I was auto-approved for it, and I never downloaded it. I only realised my mistake afterwards… 🙂
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The same as Mel here! I saw it but I didn’t have time to read it at the time, so I didn’t download it. I see it was a terrible mistake!
Sounds interesting and creepy, that life in a strange society and so on…
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Yes!!! But I was the same, too! Thankfully I got the physical book, but I was so sad to know I missed the Netgalley version a while ago.
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Love that cover! It definitely seems like this is one that you need to pick up yourself, since the reviews are so varied, even for people that tend to like similar stories. I still haven’t read it, so I just might have to keep an eye out for it now.
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That’s true. It’s definitely a book that you may love or may dislike, the reviews are that mixed. I just happen to love this one.
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Still to read this. I want to, though I’m wary of the hopelessness and creepiness you’ve mentioned. Love the cover you’ve got. Mine is a blend of yours – front cover only. I like the way yours is split, it makes it darker somehow.
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Yeah, I love the cover, too!!! I’ll be interested in seeing your review when you end up reading the book.
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This book wasn’t for me, but I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Thank you for the book!!! 🙂
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