As soon as I saw Tosca Lee had written a pandemic thriller, I knew I had to read it. She has an amazing gift of being able to bring any character to life with richness and depth. This book did not disappoint.

The disease, transmission mode, and subsequent panic in this book felt very plausible for a pandemic. The fact that there was a girl leaving a cult behind and struggling with her beliefs, brainwashing, and identity added even more depth to this book and kept me turning page after page. Every character had its place and contributed to the overall richness of this thriller.

The Line Between is an end of the world thriller. A girl, Wynter, has just been expelled from the cult she has lived with her whole life. Now, seeing the outside world for the first time, she must be scared. Soon, she has bigger problems. A disease that causes dementia is spreading at a fast rate. It's going to be a pandemic soon. Wynter is in possession of some samples, thanks to her sister, that could save the world. But, she's in Alaska, and the samples need to be in Colorado. Will she persevere, and find a way to save the world? This story is frightening and action packed. The characters are engaging and dynamic. I liked the story. It's a fun read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a lot to like about this book: great characters, wonderful writing and plotting and a nice quick pace. Overall I really enjoyed this read. However, I didn’t like how much the cult played a role in the book. It’s probably more my dislike of cults than an actual flaw in the book. The cult made me uncomfortable and I just didn’t enjoy reading about that. I wanted more of what was happening in the world, instead of constant flashbacks to what happened in the cult. I did like Wynter though and was interested to see how she adjusted to life outside the cult. I did find myself losing interest about halfway through though.

The Line Between is an original YA/PA thriller without all the usual YA tropes (no love triangles, yay!) and which could be called Peri-Apocalyptic as all the action takes place while the world is falling apart, rather than the usual after.

Wynter Roth, 22, has been thrown out of New Earth, the cult that her mother took her and her older sister Jaclyn to when she was just seven, to escape their abusive father. Run by the charismatic Magnus, they follow a strict vegetarian diet and give up all worldly possessions, preparing for the End of the World.

Taken in by her mother's best friend Julie, Wynter has difficulty enough adjusting to he modern world, but then people across America start developing a rapid onset form of dementia, and attacks on the grid and government lead to power and fuel outages.

When her sister, having escaped the compound, brings her a set of biological samples which appear to hold clues to the origin of the epidemic, Wynter sets off on a mission to take them to a scientist they believe can use them to try and stop it. Meeting a young ex-marine on the road, they must get to Colorado and save the world...

The first two thirds of the book is told in alternating chapters, Wynter leaving New Earth, and flashbacks of her time there from the beginning, and how she came to be forced to leave. The latter part was rather drawn out and predictable, in my opinion, but the last third, where the plot speeds up as Wynter and Chase drive across snowbound mostly deserted America, fending off threats from all sides, was highly enjoyable with a good ending leaving things open for the sequel, but without an annoying cliff-hanger. I also appreciated the author not throwing in all the usual PA cliches - cannibals, sexual assault threats, goodies turning out to be baddies...

Wynter was a bit too perfect, and I found the knowledge base she seemed to acquire in a mere 3 months implausible, as was the science behind the outbreak, but apart from this I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the next one. My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Line Between is published on 29th January.

The Line Between tells the story of Wynter Roth during her time in the New Earth and after she was cast from the cult for no longer believing. After being cast out she was tasked with saving the world and her niece. Even with the help of some new and some old friends the task was impossible.
About halfway through I decided if she completed her tasks I would feel let down by the author but if she failed I would feel like the author let the characters down. I still don't know which would have been worse.
The Line Between kept me sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. I could not read fast enough. If I was not reading it, I was talking about it. Maybe it helped that I moved from Nebraska to Alaska as a teenager but this story was very well written and I am thankful for the opportunity to read it early.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for a review. The Line between by Tosca Lee is my first book by this author – Wynter Roth is pushed out of a doomsday cult just as a mysterious illness sweeps the nation that brings on dementia and madness. This suspense book had a bit of everything: action, conspiracy, and romance and the story is told between flashbacks and present timelines. I enjoyed it, and will be reading more from the author.

I am not a huge fan of dystopian apocalyptic fiction – mostly because I personally feel like it has been overdone in recent years, particularly in YA books. However, I liked this book. I think it resonated more with me because the general theme was different from most dystopian fiction (at least the ones I’ve read) and the story wasn’t set way off in the future. This story could happen today! It was too close to everyday life as it is now for many people and I think that is why it ultimately appealed to me.

This book is presented in a dual timeline – Wynter’s time living at New Earth (then) and Wynter’s time after she is banished from New Earth (now). I thought the dual timeline was an effective way of developing the story. Wynter is a great character – sheltered, vulnerable, and perhaps even naïve, but she is also determined and brave.

This is a solid thriller. Cult stuff is always scary to me and no one wants to think about the world in general chaos! Overall, the story was exciting and current and I was captivated from the very beginning. I was not familiar with Tosca Lee prior to this book, but I will happily read more of her work going forward.

Thank you Netgalley and Howard Books for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me reading - an apocalyptic story featuring a cult - what a cool combination. However there were sections that felt lacking in detail for me, I wanted to know more. Tell me more about the science, and more about the bunker. What happened afterwards? This is a solid 3 1/2, and was an enjoyable read though, it would have a 4 with a bit more detail.

Let me begin by saying apocalyptic thrillers are not the type of book I typically read. However The Line Between was written by one of my favorite historical fiction authors, Tosca Lee, so I took a chance. Wow, am I glad I did!
The plot might sound far-fetched: The main character, Wynter Roth, is forcefully expelled from a doomsday cult at the same time a virus thought to be extinct is raging across the nation, leading to mass hysteria. However, the storyline works masterfully as woven together by Tosca.
Wynter would do anything to save those she loves and finds herself unexpectedly in a position where she could make a real difference if she acts boldly.
I don’t want to give away too much, so I’ll leave you with this warning: There are so many unexpected twists and turns in this fast-paced book that it is nearly impossible to put it down, so make sure you have plenty of time to read when you start it!
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend it.

**I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

I had never read Tosca Lee before, but the blurb for this one sucked me right in. Her characterization of the cult and Wynter felt at once claustrophobic, and hopeful, and kept me turning the pages. The story portrayed an interesting juxtaposition between faith and reality which Lee wrote magnificently.

Where the story lost a star for me was the back and forth narrative between past and present. This is a somewhat popular story structure, but personally I always find myself preferring one to the other and then reading the non-preferential sections can be a chore. I won’t spoil anything for future readers, but I also felt the ending lacked a certain realism.

4 stars.

Brief synopsis from the book cover:
When Wynter Roth is turned out of New Earth, a self-contained doomsday cult on the American prairie, she emerges into a world poised on the brink of madness as a mysterious outbreak of rapid early onset dementia spreads across the nation.

As Wynter struggles to start over in a world she’s been taught to regard as evil, she finds herself face-to-face with the apocalypse she’s feared all her life—until the night her sister shows up at her doorstep with a set of medical samples. That night, Wynter learns there’s something far more sinister at play and that these samples are key to understanding the disease.

Now, as the power grid fails and the nation descends into chaos, Wynter must find a way to get the samples to a lab in Colorado. Uncertain who to trust, she takes up with former military man Chase Miller, who has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the samples in her possession, and to Wynter herself.

Filled with action, conspiracy, romance, and questions of whom—and what—to believe, The Line Between is a high-octane story of survival and love in a world on the brink of madness.

My rating:
Story: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 3 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review:

The story is an interesting concept which I enjoyed. All the ingredients for a good thriller are there. It was unpredictable and nail biting at time and has good dose of psychological torment. What lets the book down for me is the fact that the story starts of quite slow which makes it hard to get into it and then towards the end it feels rushed. Because of this I felt the characters weren’t as well developed as they could have been and it was harder to be really captivated by the book. However It is still worth a read. Fans of psychological or apocalyptic thrillers will like it.

I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley at no cost to me.

The Line Between kept me engaged from the moment until long after I finished. I actually want more. What happens next?

I followed Wynter almost as if I was her. It was easy to put myself in her shoes. I loved that (because I’ve lived in or visited many of the places Wynter visits) I was easily able to envision where she was and what was taking place.

Tosca Lee has created a very current, very plausible book. The events taking place are events that one could actually envision happening. Sad but true.

I really enjoyed this book- captured my attention quickly, and held it throughout! I don't have to worry about Tosca's books being boring! Never! Can't wait for her next one!

Wow...gripping and intense. The Line Between is a dystopian thriller from best selling author, Tosca Lee. It was thought provoking and engaging. When New Earth cult member Wynter Roth is kicked out after trying to escape her forced marriage, she is left with many questions. She walks into a world of increasing violence and a destructive illness spreading into pandemic proportions. She escapes with samples that may help bring a cure, but has to travel far to get it the right person. Chase Miller ends up rescuing her and believing in her cause. A riveting read that will keep you up all night! Apocalyptic fiction at its best...
I was given a NetGalley copy of this book. I was not required to give a review. All opinions are my own. I honestly loved it!

"Save the bacon, save the world."

Tosca Lee's newest thriller kept me up past my bedtime these past few nights! If you like doomsday, apocalyptic type stories, this one is for you.

Wynter's journey in The Line Between is extraordinary. Her struggle with faith and living in a world completely different than what she's ever known could have been her undoing. Instead, they give her the strength and determination to do what's needed to save herself, her family, and possibly, the world.

This story reminds me of the saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Life is hard. Sometimes we're dealt a horrible hand in life that beats us down, leaves us weak, and seems impossible to overcome. But it doesn't. And somehow we're able to have faith and become stronger in the midst of the circumstances.

*I received a complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

'One step. That's all it takes to span the distance of eternity. Welcome to hell.'

Tosca Lee carries her readers on a scary, riveting ride that grips the mind and refuses to let go.

Wynter Roth has just been cast out of a religious cult/commune and seeks shelter with a friend of her mother's. The outside world is completely new and bewildering and her mind is on overload. At the same time, an extinct disease re-emerges from the permafrost in Alaska and whole cities are being quarantined. Then the grid in the country and other parts of the world goes crazy. Interstates are blocked, people are running for their lives, scared to death of this illness that begins as flu-like, then causes rapid onset early dementia. No vaccine, either.

Wynter's sister shows up, from the same cult, and gives her a set of specimens that she has stolen from the cult leader. Specimens that just may hold the answer to this disease. IF Wynter can get them to a scientist in Colorado. Wynter seeks a rider with a former marine, Chase Miller, after her car is damaged and together they seek to remedy this world that has been thrown into total chaos.

I was completely riveted during this entire book. Lee has done a bang up job with this one and I highly recommend it. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book.

*My thanks to the publisher for an early copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

I enjoyed the book as the author tells the story of how Wynter joins a cult led by a narcissistic leader. Her sister gets her out of the cult to save her. Later Wynter & Jackie finds out their leader plan and thwarts his plans with invaluable assistance.

I am giving this book a 4 star because it had a slow beginning explaining about New Earth.

The Line Between by Tosca Lee is an apocalyptic thriller about a cult, a virus, and a girl who's on a mission to save humanity.

When Wynter Roth gets kicked out New Earth, the doomsday cult that she grew up in, she finds herself in a world that's on the brink of panic. Seeking shelter with a family friend, she finds herself in the middle of the apocalypse the cult had warned about. A mysterious disease is reaching its claws across American, simulating early onset dementia. While everyone slowly loses their minds, Wynter is given the key to the disease in the form of medical samples. Can she save her family and friends? Can she save herself?

This was a decent thriller. While I can't count it among my favorites, it was still an enjoyable read. I was in the mood for something light, so this book was perfect. The quick pace and the interesting storyline made this book a breeze to read through. If I did half stars, I probably would have ranked this book a 3 1/2.

I really liked the story concept! The cult aspect of the book was fascinating, and I enjoyed reading about it. Wynter's experiences in the cult were downright creepy! The way the cult treated the children, the women, the men . . . It seemed more like a form of slavery than a loving community. How could anyone live like that?

The cult's leader, Magnus, was wonderfully bizarre. While reading the book, I constantly questioned whether or not Magnus truly believed the message he was giving his followers. His interactions with Wynter were some of the best in the book.

While there were a lot of positives about The Line Between, it didn't go deep enough for me. I liked that it was fast-paced, but the pace was so quick that big chunks of time seemed to be glossed over. From the time Wynter received the medical samples til the end of the book, a lot happened! But none of the events went into any detail, so everything felt like a high level overview. Give me the details! I want to know more!

Because the book didn't go into details, the characters never felt fully developed. I liked the characters well enough, but I didn't feel as though I got to know any of the characters. They were acquaintances--not friends.

Despite my critiques, I still enjoyed my time spent with The Line Between.

Would I recommend this book to others? If you like thrillers, or if you enjoy apocalyptic books, then yes. The Line Between was a quick read, worthy of your TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love me a good thriller! "The Line Between," written by Tosca Lee, had me on the edge of my seat. It was interesting to learn from Wynter as she navigated life outside of the cult she had been thrown out of, only to find herself in a true to life apocalyptic situation. Crazy real!

The Line Between is a thriller by Tosca Lee, who has written one amazing fiction book after another, including a series with Ted Dekker. While I haven’t read everything she has written so far, she is definitely on my favorite-authors-to-look-out-for list.

This book mostly revolves around the main character, Wynter, who was a member of a doomsday cult from the age of seven when her mother, Sylvia, took Wynter, along with her sister, there in order to escape from Sylvia’s violent husband. The characterization feels astonishingly accurate. I found myself thinking at times that this is exactly how I would expect someone like Wynter to behave after being brainwashed for years, and then thrown out into a world where people seem to live such carefree, self-centered lives.

Tosca tosses in enough suspense to make this a difficult-to-put-down, page-turning thriller. I definitely think this book is worth a 5 star rating.