Jack Harper Trilogy, Book 1
Synopsis:
From the age of seven, Jack Harper is raised by the leader of a mystical cult, Cyrus Harper. Through Cyrus, Jack receives a full education in all usual subjects―economics, literature, mathematics, history―as well as one unique skill useful to a person in Cyrus’s position: assassination. With the help of Roland James, a man incapable of dying, Cyrus hones Jack into the perfect weapon to use against all who oppose him.
It is not long, however, before Jack discovers that Cyrus and Roland are not the only ones living in Cyrus’s mansion. There, too, exists a mysterious creature in the depths of the house with supposed immortal magic. According to Roland, this creature is responsible for all the miraculous things Jack has witnessed throughout her childhood, including Roland’s resurrection. The creature, potent and powerful, only weakens in the presence of Cyrus’s red velvet box―a dark, enchanted tool that grants Cyrus his invincibility and ensures his reign.
Lonely and terrified by her life in the cult, under Cyrus’s neverending watch, Jack desperately pursues the mysterious being. When they finally meet, her world is turned upside down, as he offers her more than she could have ever expected―the possibility of escape and her own secret, magical power.
Edition:
Paperback
Disclaimer:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for review consideration.
Trigger Warnings for Pivot:
- some violence against animals
- child abuse
- cult-based trauma
My Thoughts:
First off, I know – 2 books this week. I have been trying to be more balanced in books vs. movies, but the reality is that I read a LOT. And I’ve been really struggling to concentrate on movies lately, so I just haven’t watched very many. It’s mostly been reruns of Frasier or Cutthroat Kitchen. But, I digress.
So, Pivot is a really compelling story. It opens strong, and nothing was ever quite as expected. I don’t know about you, but when I see ‘cult,’ I assume they either worship some bastardized version of the Christian god, or aliens – because that seems to be the way, right? I don’t know where to locate a definitive list of Christianity-based cults off the top of my head, but, ummm…there’s a fucking lot of them, okay? And aliens? Ahem, *Scientology,* ahem. So, yeah – those are the two things I expect. This ain’t that.
I’m not sure that they worship the Devil, per se, so they probably don’t count as Christian-based. So far as I could tell, they just worship Cyrus. And Cyrus worships the very notion of evil. When he first takes in Jack, she’s a very young girl. She’s only 7 years old when he forces her to kill for the first time. And he won’t let her stop killing for him. She’s raised up to be his own private murder squad. And she does it because she doesn’t know any different. Besides, sometimes Cyrus brings those she’s killed back.
As in back from the dead.
What the fuck even is this book?!
It’s wonderful, honestly. It’s a sort of urban-dark-fantasy-horror story where the line between good and evil initially seem very clear, but then they get a little less so. And a little less. Until you feel like you maybe don’t know so much about right and wrong.
Pivot is a compulsively readable, highly disturbing treatise on they cyclic nature of trauma and abuse, and on the necessity of breaking that cycle.
“The problem is, you don’t see abuse at first, and by the time you do, the connection is so strong it’s hard to let go of the loyalty…You’re not dropped into boiling water. You’re dropped into a lukewarm pot, and the temperature slowly rises. Sometimes it takes a while to notice you’re cooking, and, well, even then it’s hard.”
About the Author:
LC Barlow is a writer and professor. Her work has been published in a variety of magazines and journals and garnered praise, winning multiple awards. Barlow lives in Dallas with her cats Smaug, Dusty, and Fiona.
Rating:
It’s a dark, but also highly addictive read.
Pivot Jack Harper Trilogy book 1 By LC Barlow Rare Bird Books Published: October 15, 2019 ISBN: 1644280531 Paperback, E-book 224 Pages Author's Website
