Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for After the Prodigal Returned by Cassandre Brissot, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cassandre Brissot is a Brooklyn, NY native. She earned her bachelor of fine arts in television and radio production at the City University of New York Brooklyn College. Cassandre is the author of Six Years and A Quarter Way Through. When she’s not writing for her blog, she enjoys dance parties with her nieces.
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My first book love was Harry Potter. Like most first loves, it fondly persists in my heart with me none the wiser to its faults, only its virtues. While I will always love Harry, Ron, and Hermoine, I found my interest piqued by others. Maybe he reminded me of Harry, but Ethan Wate and the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia held the top spot in my heart next. That relationship was short-lived, though. I was introduced to The Hunger Games and forgot all about Ethan and Lena. Katniss Everdeen’s internal dialogue, fierce loyalty, moral absolutism, and love triangle kept me committed to the relationship. Then I met Jace Lightwood. The Mortal Instruments erased every other series from my heart. I even read the other series set in the shadow world (until it morphed into something almost entirely different). But, as we all do, I changed. I’d met another book, and this one was different. While it had many qualities I enjoy in a book, I saw something special. It’s been some time now, and The Selection is still my favorite series. Not to be confused with my favorite book. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.
The Selection is a five-book series, plus novellas, written by Kiera Cass. It is a cross-over YA series set in a fictional, nearly dystopian United States of America. The heir to the monarchy, a son, must choose a bride. To create goodwill and inject excitement into a demoralized society, they hold a selection. All eligible women of a certain age are encouraged to enter for a chance to be selected. The chosen women will live in the castle and “date” the Prince until he selects one as his bride.
America Singer is a seventeen-year-old girl with no designs for the Prince. But because she’s part of a lower caste (yes, the story has a caste system), she is coaxed into entering. I don’t want to give away too many details if someone is reading this blog who hasn’t yet read the series. There’s much to love about The Selection, Cass’s writing style, the beautiful dresses, and the love storie(s). For a long time, what captured me most was the chemistry between the protagonists. But lately, I most appreciate its parallels to one of my favorite accounts in The Bible. The story of Esther.
Like Esther, America had no probability of becoming Queen. They both were poor and lower class, but in both cases, a ‘selection’ of the most beautiful young women in the land was called for, which included them. Both women were called on to use their favor with the royal to help their people. Esther was brave, courageous, and concerned with justice. America bears the same qualities. Again, without giving too much away, the resemblance in stories is striking. Ordinary women called to do extraordinary things, not through superhuman power or abilities, but through the position and favor afforded them by God. That’s real life.
The Selection makes no references to God, neither does the book of Esther. However, God’s providence is so clearly on display in Ether’s story. There can be nothing but praise for how God was divinely arranging things for the good of His people. I don’t know what Kiera Cass’s religious beliefs are, but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to learn she is a believer. Some of the books I’ve held very dear in the past have lost their importance to me because they don’t make room for God. I believe every excellent story, the best of books, points back to God. That’s why I’ve chosen to write Christian fiction. Even when I’m entertaining, I want to be directing people towards the Savior.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a copy of Six Years and a Quarter Way Through, a copy of After The Prodigal Returned, and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 31, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 7, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Review
This is my first time reading a book by Cassandre Brissot. I picked up this book based on the cover and the story synopsis. I am always on the look out for new voices in fiction, and new ways of looking at familiar stories. Cassandre Brissot encompasses both in After The Prodigal Returned. It is the second book in a series, and I do recommend reading Six Years And A Quarter Way Through before reading this book, so you have more context going in.
Overall, this story had a great voice. We get a good look inside Leah’s mind, thought process, and her struggles in knowing where and what she is supposed to do in life.
Brice is also an interesting character with a lot of strength in his faith and he seems to have a very wise way of looking at things.
Tanner… not really sure how to explain him other than saying he is persistent.
There is a bit of a love triangle (which is not always my favorite thing to read) but I thought Cassandre Brissot did a great job bringing it full circle and closing things in a believable way.
I give After The Prodigal Returned 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Thank you for sharing!
Sounds good. I love the cover.
After the Prodigal Returned sounds like a great book and I like the cover! Thanks for sharing it with me! Thanks, Traveler’s Wife, for sharing your review! Have a fantastic day!
Sounds like a good book.