The gripping apocalypse story you didn’t know you needed, American Rapture breathes fresh life into the largely overplayed “end of the world” novel.

Across America a terrifying new virus transforms people into their worst selves, slavering, feral infected who go mad with lust and tear apart anything in their path. By the time people realize just how dire the situation is, society has already broken down; institutions can't protect the people and a zealous denomination of evangelicals adds fuel to the flames of what they consider to be the end of days. As the world around her falls into chaos, Sophie, a devout catholic girl, goes on a perilous journey to find her twin brother amidst the fire and ruin of the rural Midwest. Along the way she meets a compelling cast of characters and barely manages to avoid death or infection at every turn.

While the action and world building are top notch, where this book really shines is in portraying Sophie’s inner struggle to unlearn the shame and restriction of her upbringing and finally think for herself for a change. Written like someone who struggled with their own religious upbringing, this aspect of the book was easily one of the best, in a book that was overall very high caliber.

Compulsively readable, this novel feels like watching an exciting, poignant movie and makes you wish it were the first in a series instead of a stand alone book.