Over the Wall by Claire O’Connor

From the clutches of the cult she was born into, Keziah emerges seeking true freedom, but will she ever succeed?

Surrounded by an extended family of playful children and nurturing women, Keziah never imagined life would change so drastically. By the age of 16, she is expected to live her life as an adult member of The Genus. By the age of 19, she is expected to marry cult leader Sy, prompting her to plot escape over the wall. When she reaches the outside world, however, what awaits her is not what she thought. Although modern life has challenges, Keziah tries her best to adjust.
Despite warnings, she tracks down Abe, a childhood friend and fellow escapee. Why did he go his own way on the side of the wall? No one wants to talk about it. She is determined to find out the truth. Keziah's journey unravels complexities, fuelling determination with each trial.

The initial instalment of the Over The Wall trilogy weaves escapism and liberation into a battle against The Genus.

Review

‘Over the Wall’ is a fascinating look into a young woman's life after she escapes from a cult and I was totally engrossed by her story! I have always been fascinated by cults and the psychology around them and this book certainly delves into this and their controlling nature. But what we read less about is life afterwards and this book explores this.

Keziah has been brought up in the Genus and now she is 16 she is deemed an adult and for her this means marrying the cult leader Sy. Keziah flees this situation and finds that the world is a lot stranger than she thought. Helped by other members of the cult for who fled before her she begins to settle into outside life. Despite warnings from the group she tracks down a fellow escapee Abe who has distanced himself from them. Why did he leave and why won't the rest of them discuss it? She is determined to find out the truth.

I found this book to be a compelling look into Keziah’s life and I couldn't put it down! It was utterly fascinating and the characters are very nuanced. As much as Abe is a troubled young man I was empathetic to his situation. Imagine your whole life being ripped from you and having to adapt to a complex society. Keziah was the star of this story though and I as a reader was rooting for her from the very start! She shows such strength and she is a thoroughly grounded young woman.

I flew through this in one sitting and I am desperately wanting to read more about Keziah’s life and can't wait for the next book to be released!

Let me know if you pick this one up!