Book Review: Drought

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Released: Jan 25, 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 400
Rating: 5 stars

Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.

She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood.

So she stays.

But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?

This is one unique novel. Drought was far from what I was expecting but I enjoyed reading every page of it. It was so gripping and produce a lot of emotions to stir within me. Drought is definitely one novel that will get some strong opinionated topics going. I know I got some questions that I would love to see answered in either a sequel or prequel - I won’t go into any detail for fear of spoiling the book for yall.

Drought is well-written and has great characterization, although some of the character’s way of thinking drove be bananas. The plot reminds me a lot of the movie, The Village, with a community isolated from the world worshipping something strange. Ruby was a strong character, struggling over loyalty to herself, the congregation, and love. While the congregation worships a man named Otto and believe he will save them, Ruby is fed up with the conditions they must live everyday and longs for freedom. Only problem, not everyone wants to change things. Darwin West is pure evil, yet the perfect villain. If the congregation doesn’t meet his daily expectations, then he punishes them by starvation, violence, or extra hard labor. The Elder’s and Ruby’s mother infuriated me throughout the entire novel. Why have such devotion for a man that left them around 200 years ago?? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

This is one horrifyingly twisted, yet riveting read. I can’t wait to see what Bachorz comes up with next.