We also get to see science treated with as much respect as religion in this horror novel. We get to see how hallowed ground for other religions works just as well as that of the Plainfolk for keeping the Darkness out. Alex, Katie’s romantic interest, still has fascinating stories about various religious traditions. If you decided to read the sequel because you liked the different questions of philosophy in The Hallowed Ones, take heart, The Outside is an intelligent read that will have you feeling inquisitive. Of course she has cemented her way into my heart. I should also mention that Katie is an animal lover, she’s rational, and a tiny bit rebellious.

I did not think I’d love a book with an Amish person as the main character, but it turns out that Laura Bickle and The Outside as well as The Hallowed Ones have proved me very wrong. I love that Katie continues to develop and to kind of become more real to me.

Yet, all of the faith and the mentions of God don’t feel pushy, and I say that as someone who will hide upstairs if it looks like people are going to knock on my door and spread the good word to me. What I love about Bickle’s duology (at least I think it is a duology) is that she writes a main character, Katie, affectionately referred to as Bonnet by Alex, who realistically questions her faith. It might not be as action-packed as The Hallowed Ones per se, but all of the revelations about what is going on outside the Plain community kept my attention rapt. It kind of kills me to not go into more depth on their adventures because the plot of this book is great. Along the way they encounter snakes, the Darkness, an abandoned private zoo, and more. The three make their way north searching for Alex and Ginger’s families as well as other survivors. Fellow readers, The Outside was everything I wanted in the sequel to The Hallowed Ones and more.Ī bann has been placed on Katie, meaning that she has been shunned for sleeping with outsider Alex, and so the two have been kicked out of the Plain community along with Katie’s outsider friend, middle aged woman Ginger. I began to explain what the book was about, usually opening with ‘well, this sounds dumb but it’s about the Amish and vampires’ but then I would go into depth about how once you get past the concept, the story is one that asks deeper questions but ultimately leaves the reader to make up their own mind about those questions. As I work with a friendly, inquisitive bunch of people I kept getting questions about what I was reading.

The other day I took The Outside by Laura Bickle to work with me to read during my lunch break.

However, if you’ve read the official summary you’ve already been spoiled. Note: Spoilers will be posted in this review.

The hallowed ones by laura bickle