Hope & the end of the world: Review of The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim

Two words I never thought I’d put together in a book review: Amish and apocalypse. But here we are with The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim. I should note that the Plain community in this novel is Old Order Mennonite, not Amish, though the two have similarities. And it really is set when the world, as we know it, ends. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book through the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my review.) 

When a small plane crashes in Leora Ebersole’s Plain community in Montana, it’s clear that something major has happened in the world. The pilot, Moses Hughes, reveals that an epic power outage is the reason for the stranded Englischers and the lack of electricity. As the Old Order Mennonite community becomes a refuge, the two groups must decide if they can work together to stay alive while navigating their differing beliefs about pacifism and protection.

This is not a “Walking Dead” kind of apocalyptic story, but it does raise challenging questions about how far a person is willing to deviate from their beliefs in order to save those they love. My only disappointment is that I didn’t know there is a second, forthcoming book, in this series. So, the end is not exactly the end. I’m eager to learn more about the lives of Leora and Moses as the end of the world as they know it intensifies.

Petersheim is a gifted wordsmith, and her tone throughout the novel is one of hope despite circumstances. The Alliance is such a rare read. I don’t know of another book of its kind. I don’t usually read apocalyptic novels, but this one I can wholeheartedly recommend.