The Diary of Vivienne unfolds as a layered and haunting story. It follows a hidden journal discovered in the ruins of a future society that has scrubbed away its own painful past. The entries from Vivienne Rose, her partner Richard, and the ethereal teachings of Neferatu paint a world that swings between collapse and renewal. War tears through nations, faith shakes, and reforms itself, and ordinary people cling to hope as their only compass. The book wanders through violence, prophecy, political decay, and spiritual awakening, then suddenly shifts into a bright new age where humanity tries to forget what nearly destroyed it. The result is a narrative that asks, again and again, if hope can save us or if forgetting our darkness only guarantees its return.

I found myself caught between admiration and discomfort as Ashby moves from intimate confessions to sweeping political commentary. Sometimes the writing feels like a storm that refuses to settle. Other times it quiets into soft moments of grief or tenderness, especially when Vivienne speaks of her daughter or her friends. I loved those parts. They felt raw and human. But I kept circling back to the idea of Neferatu. His teachings land with a strange mix of poetry and severity. I felt drawn in, then pushed back out, unsure if I was reading wisdom or warning. That tension made the experience oddly addictive. I kept turning pages just to sit with that uncertainty.

The political edges of the book hit me differently. Ashby writes with open frustration about the collapse of governments, the decay of social trust, and the failures of institutions. Those sections made me pause because they echoed fears many people carry but rarely spell out so boldly. Sometimes I nodded along. Sometimes I winced. The diary style makes these passages feel personal rather than preachy. Still, the blend of prophecy, politics, mysticism, and dystopia can feel dizzying. But I liked the daring mix. The emotional swings, though, are what give the book its pulse. I felt alarm, sadness, wonder, and even hope that felt shaky but real.

I would recommend The Diary of Vivienne to readers who enjoy stories that blur the line between spiritual reflection and dystopian fiction. It fits anyone who likes a narrative that thinks out loud, pokes at uncomfortable ideas, and makes you question what you believe about society, faith, and the future. If you want a book that lingers in your mind long after you close it, this one will do just that.

Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0F6TFS5DG