A Darker Place

The book is very informative about religious cults. The author obviously did a lot of research to write this book and it is interesting. However, she does base this particular cult on the literal, figurative and metaphorical use of alchemy. One does have to be able to tune in to her mindset on this theme.

At times I found it a little ridiculous when it reached extremes but then I realized that many religious cults do have very strange belief systems, some that have led to mass suicides. So the extreme beliefs and actions of the cults leaders are not so strange when one considers real cults that have or do exist.

Some have questioned the ending and thought the author gave up or didnt know how to end it. I dont agree with that. While I thought the ending "went off the deep end," and was a bit too much, the author did lay the groundwork for her ending. She explained the metaphorical use of alchemy to bring transformations, she explained the destructive inclinations of the cults leader and let the readers know he was not mentally stable. She did lay the basis for her ending.

Also, she did tell us enough in the end for a satisfactory finish as much as many authors tell us, especially in mysteries. We know what happened to the main characters, to those we cared about.

All in all, I was fascinated by this book--by the writing although I had to suspend belief a few times on the alchemy theory. If a book is that riveting that I cant get anything else done, I consider it a good read. I would recommend it to some people and not others, however, as I know some people would get frustrated with it.