Will Hill wrote After the Fire, based on real events, addressing the siege of a cult once known as Branch Davidians. In his novel After the Fire, Will Hill tells the story of the downfall of an extremely religious cult. The story is told through the eyes of Moonbeam, a 17-year-old teenage girl who reflects on her life growing up in said cult and her life after its downfall.
In the novel, Will Hill allows his readers to gain insight into the psychological terror that being a part of a cult entails. Growing up in the cult, the “Lord’s Legion,” Moonbeam was trained to obey orders and endure strict punishments as a way of developing self-control. According to Father John (the cult leader), this was the only way to enter Heaven. Father John was a cruel, self-proclaimed prophet who took over the former leader, Father Patrick. He preached about the wrongdoing and evilness of the world outside of the “Lord’s Legion.” As one would expect, all members of the “Lord’s Legion” were not allowed to cross the fence (or any enclosing barriers) or speak to Outsiders, as anyone on the opposite side of the said fence was thought to be “The Servants of Serpenta.”
The downfall of the “Lord’s Legion” is a massive fire that burns down the compound and kills most of the cult members. The massive fire is followed by shootings between the surviving cult members and government agencies. The mystery, however, is how the fire started.
Hill strategically formats his novel by creating a parallel between the past and present through Moonbeam. In the book’s present time, Moonbeam and her friends are being taken care of in a rehabilitation center after the FBI’s siege of the “Lord’s Legion.” Emphasizing the mental precariousness of cult aftermath, Hill incorporates Luke, a “Lord’s Legion” fanatic. Luke was raised in the cult. So, he had no real-world experience, only what he had been told and taught by Father John. At the rehabilitation center, Luke wished that he perished in the fire so he could be gifted entry to Heaven. Because of this, Luke and Moonbeam are direct opposites of each other, especially as Moonbeam’s character develops. Moonbeam slowly establishes a safe and comfortable relationship with her psychiatrist, Dr. Hernandez, after many (daily) interviews. Another important character, Agent Carlyle from the FBI, works with Moonbeam and Dr. Hernandez to thoroughly investigate the “Lord’s Legion” compound.
Suspense is built through the fact that Moonbeam does not share much about her life in the cult, even though everyone (including the reader) knows that her eyes have seen many horrid things that her words cannot fully grasp. Nevertheless, Moonbeam opens up to Dr. Hernandez about her experiences, ultimately questioning her once-strong loyalty to the “Lord’s Legion” and her newly-found (and growing) loyalty to herself. The voice of Father John was very stubborn in Moonbeam’s mind, causing Moonbeam to question her role in the outside world, the world she once called “The Servants of Serpenta.”
Moonbeam recalls meeting Nate, a new “Lord’s Legion” member. The two grow very fond of each other; Moonbeam is intrigued by Nate’s views on life, and such views make Moonbeam question the intentions of the cult. After Nate leaves the cult, Moonbeam considers leaving the cult herself.
The novel continues to portray the impact of harmful situations on innocent, misled people. It shows the cunning game of trust and loyalty. Moonbeam’s coming-of-age story shows the gruesome psychology behind knowing what is real and what is deemed to be real.
