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This was a hard read. I‘ve read other survivor stories, watched documentaries, listened to podcasts about FLDS. Each story is horrific. Carolyn was raised in FLDS and forced to marry a 50 year old man at 18 years old; she had 8 children from him, and left the abuse for good at 35 years old. She fought to protect and keep her children and won—and found real love later on. This difficult memoir tells every part of her story. TW, CW.

This book answered lingering questions from Carolyn‘s first book, Escape. Notably, she addresses her relationship with her daughter that chose to return to the FLDS upon turning 18. The middle of the book was a bit of self-help that made the listen go slowly but she returns to her story after it so it‘s worth it to finish the book.

What a courageous woman.

I listened to the audiobook and my husband said the narrator sounded like a robot and I agree - it made it a bit difficult but also, the emotional restraint was commendable.

TW: SA. This rating is hard because Rachel Jeffs went through actual hell as Warren Jeffs daughter. But, at moments I was disappointed in her word choice. For example, she mentions “underage sex” a few times, but that makes me think of two minors having consensual sex. The word she should use is rape, and I think she only uses it once when reading charges brought against her father. I also found her voice difficult to listen to so I sped it up.

#Read2025 #Wardens2025

Amazing Triumph🎉

#CharacterCharm Prophet Wow! I never really heard this song before, lol. And I love queen. Really love the voices with no instruments. @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

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What an amazing woman!!

I feel like I have either read this one (I looked and it doesn't look like I have) or just the story is too much on the forefront of my mind. I am gonna #DNF it - maybe I will pick It up later. but this is not the time.

There are reviews doubting Musser, but if even half of what she talks about is true, the events are still horrific. Another reviewer complained that she used dialog when there‘s no way she could remember every talk verbatim. That‘s a ridiculous complaint as it‘s true of every memoir. Musser herself acknowledges that her memory is often different from others. As an account of FLDS life & Warren Jeffs‘ trial this is an important book.