The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell ★★★★★

“I was naked before God and I was raped." 

I'm trying to remember a book that traumatized me this much and failing. Donna Boyd has cut me deep, Stephen King has given me nightmares, Cheryl Strayed has made me cry - Mary Russell has wrung all of this from me and more. The tension was unbelievable! 

I am emotionally wrecked - drained.

 
When this was put up for Science Fiction Aficionados BOM the first thread comments were from those who had previously read it asking themselves if they had the fortitude to read it again. I thought this book couldn't be as hard to read as Cyteen.

This book gave true horror. I close my eyes and I can hear the screams, smell the meat and the thick perfume, and see those pitiless beautiful eyes. Dear God, I don't think I'll ever get over this modern classic. A five star book I will never read again.