When Deborah King writes a novel, she means business. She is not kidding around. Not for one second. “Gird up thy loins” (King James Bible 2 Kings 4:29) before you read Glory Unbound. This story takes no prisoners. I read King’s first novel Glory Bishop and thought it was the best book I read in 2019. Glory Unbound is a continuation of that novel, but in truth, it stands alone. It stands alone in its originality, its depth of emotion, its memorable characters, and its unflinching representation of how the corruption of a religious dogma can ruin people’s lives. The main character, Glory Bishop, is only 17 years old at the start of Glory Unbound, a time in life when young men and woman still need plenty of love and guidance from the adults in their lives. But the people Glory should be able to rely on—family and church elders—abuse that trust. They manipulate her heart and her perception of what a good woman can expect out of life. A person not as strong or brave or resilient as Glory Bishop would have been crushed by these people. But she endures it all. I can’t spill the ending, but I can tell you that it was so, so satisfying. I was chewing my cuticles and shouting at the book to the very end. And if anyone ever starts quoting scripture to me, I will run away, far away! #23for23
